Amaryllis

At a Glance

Meaning

To sparkle or shine

Origin

Ancient Greek

Gender

Girl

Pronunciation

am-ah-RIL-issListen

Amaryllis is a girl's name rooted in Ancient Greek, where it comes from a word meaning 'to sparkle or shine.' You may see it explained as meaning a dazzling flower, but that gets the history backward: the flower was actually named after a Greek shepherdess called Amaryllis, not the other way around. It's pronounced am-ah-RIL-iss.

Meaning & Origin of Amaryllis

Meaning: To sparkle or shine.

Origin: Ancient Greek.

A common claim: Amaryllis is often said to mean 'an exotic/dazzling flower.' Actually: That reverses the actual history — the amaryllis flower was named after the Greek shepherdess Amaryllis, not the other way around; the name itself derives from a Greek root meaning 'to sparkle or shine.'

Source: Wiktionary.

How to Pronounce Amaryllis

Popularity of Amaryllis

Amaryllis reached its high point in 1927, when 45 babies were given the name, ranking it #1139. By 2024 it had fallen to #2689, with just 64 babies given the name that year.

Names Like Amaryllis

These names share Amaryllis’s style, era or origin.

• Agnes
• Althea
• Anastasiya
• Antigone
• Calista
• Calla

FAQ

What does the name Amaryllis mean?

To sparkle or shine. (Source: Wiktionary)

How do you pronounce Amaryllis?

Amaryllis is pronounced am-ah-RIL-iss (IPA: /ˌæməˈrɪlɪs/).

Is Amaryllis a popular name right now?

Amaryllis peaked at #1139 in 1927 and is ranked #2689 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1926–2024.)

Make Amaryllis Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Amaryllis, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.