Name of the Day: Aurelia
With the Olympics in full swing, today’s golden choice feels terribly appropriate.
Thanks to Kayt for suggesting our Name of the Day: Aurelia.
Based on the amount of online chatter about Aurelia, we suspect she’s one of those throwback names that is primed for a revival. Up until 1950, she regularly appeared in the US Top 1000. As of 2007, it’s been more than five decades since she charted.
Julius Ceasar’s mother was one of the Aurelii, a Roman family with many notable members even before Julius got to work. Like many of her female kin, she was known as Aurelia.
The name’s meaning is familiar to anyone who has worked her way through the periodic table of the elements, and learned that AU symbolizes gold. In Latin, the precious metal is aurum; aureus would be the adjective.
Saint Aurelia lived in the early 1000s, a cloistered recluse in Salzburg, Austria. Little is known of her life. There was also a Saint Aurelius circa 400, and several saints Aurelian and Aurea.
Aurelia and the frillier still Aureliana appear to have been used right through the early Middle Ages. While they were not common, we can find a scattering of references throughout the Western world and the Byzantine Empire. Aurélie is the French version; the emphasis is usually on the third syllalbe – oh rel LEE. In English, you’re might likely to hear aw REEL ee ah, aw REL ee ah or even aw REL yah.
You might also come across Oralie and Oralee, which are probably related – but we think they sacrifice much of the name’s style and strength by losing the Latin “Au.”
The name was almost lost to obscurity, but sometime late in the 17th century, parents rediscovered this elemental choice. Some might argue that calling your child gold is on par with using a luxury brand like Armani or Chanel as a given name; we suspect parents were drawn to the positive attributes of the precious metal – the idea that is valuable, enduring and strong. And let’s not forget that it was around this time that Homer and Virgil became viable choices for sons. Antiquity made a comeback, and Aurelia was part of the trend.
We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention a quirky little piece about this name – it’s a genus of jellyfish! They’re common throughout the world, and even turn up on the dinner table in China and the Far East. This either gives the name an appealing under-the-sea twist, or makes you fear for your child’s first school trip to the aquarium.
While Aurelia remains unranked, we think she’s likely to appeal to parents considering Adriana, Arianna, Arabella and Ariel, as well as Valeria, Julia and Octavia. This dual appeal – both her sound and her story – are why we’re calling Aurelia one to watch for 2010.
Aureliana, however, seems like too much. And Aurea seems a bit brief – and brings to mind those childhood staples, Oreo cookies.
That said, we like Aurelia’s ancient vibe, her simple meaning, her feminity without flimsiness.
Just don’t name her sister Argentia. She’ll always feel second best.
Filed under: Ancient World, Hot Names of 2010, Names for Girls, Names of the Day, Saints | 11 Comments
Tags: Aurelia, Aureliana
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I love Aurelia! She figures in my middle name slot, generally because of her lack of nicknames. aw REL ee ah or aw REL yah are the standard pronunciations for me. The first is how I say it, the second is how my Polish/Russian family says it.
I think she’s completely lovely and warm. I like that in a name. I also like the fact that she’s unranked (at least for now).
Aurelia’s a real winner for me! Huzzah!
I love this name!!
So classic and sophisticated, i love how it is not popular.
I pronounce it: aw Rel ee ah.
Aurelia’s not for me. It’s too much . . . all those vowels shoved in there and the possible four syllable pronunciation strike me as over the top. I think the pronunciation and spelling would be endlessly botched in the States.
Auri as a nickname??? Looks cute, but not sure how to pronounce it.
I love it. It’s more common in the Spanish speaking community here in Colorado, so it’s been vetoed by the husband for being Spanish where neither of us are. It might be a bit close to my sister’s name, Amelia. However, I just adore it! It’s less Disney princess feeling than Aurora (plus, Aurora is a low income city near us, generally called ‘Saudi Aurora’, so that’s out for a whole other reason), and it has the princessy feel of Arianna and friends while being a real, strong name.
I love Aurelia! I agree with coolteamblt, it’s one of those princessy-sounding names that doesn’t go too far overboard. It’s pretty with a touch of class. It’s an awesome name
It makes me think of “Love Actually”. I like it, but won’t use it.
I like it, almost love it. Strongly considered for my daughter born in “the year of the golden boar”, but in the end, I just couldn’t pull the trigger.
Aurelia makes me think of Love Actually too! To me, her over-the-top, ornate Spanish feel is both her greatest strenth and greatest weakness. I love the idea of Aurelia but would I get fed up with her sound in practice? Probably.
I might know that Aurelia has ancient, well heeled associations but countless others might interpret this name as a fussy, frilly, princessy choice. What’s more, I feel strongly that a name should give you a certain amount of breathing space. While some days are frilly, feminine days when I would wholeheartedly embrace the idea of a names like Aurelia; other days are classic stripped-bare days when Aurelia would seem unnecesarily fussy.
MM.. Aurelia / Aurelie is tied first place as my girls name for our next bub (tied with Beatrix). I absolutely adore her, and have for years! I love the richness of Aurelia, but I feel Aurelie suits Matilda, Oliver & Iris a little better.
It may be my Australian accent, as it seems I’m in the minority when compared with the the lovelies online, but I pronounce her aw-REE-lee-ah / au -reh-LEE
Funny, I’m not wild about Aurelia, but Aurelie seems truly novel. And she goes well with Matilda, Oliver and Iris, too! But I do love Beatrix, too – tough call!
thanks! I know.. how tough is it! Somehow, I don’t think I’ll be able to convince DH to let me have 2 more girls though
hahah