The baby name Amoret could substitute for favorites like Scarlett and Juliet that are so popular for baby girls now.
Thanks to Heather for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.
WHAT DOES THE NAME AMORET MEAN?
Amoret comes from the Latin amor – to love – plus the ending -et.
You might find the meaning listed as “little loved one.”
That suggests that children were once named Amor. As with Anne or Julia, adding an ette created a diminutive form. Annette, Juliet, Amorette.
But Amor was never a typical given name. Instead, Amoret is more like Scarlett or Bridget. It’s a name ending in -et, but it’s always stood on its own.
So where did this rare name originate?
AMORET IN THE FAERIE QUEENE
File Amoret with Belphoebe and Clarinda.
Edmund Spenser invented dozens of character names for The Faerie Queene, a late sixteenth-century epic poem.
Amoret is the sister of Belphoebe. In fact, they’re twins, but don’t have much in common.
Belphoebe is referred to as a maiden or virgin, raised by the goddess Artemis and taught to hunt. Because she’s unmarried, Belphoebe freely sets off on quests and adventures.
Her sister Amoret is about to marry. She was raised by Venus, expected to find love and affection. A villain kidnaps her before her wedding night to Sir Scudamour. A female knight called Britomart rescues her and reunites the happy couple.
Spenser clearly intended the name to signify married love and chastity. Some suggest that it came from the Italian amoretto, used for the god of love, Cupid, in works of art from the Italian word for love, amore.
MORE USES OF AMORET
Edmund Spenser wasn’t the only one to use Amoret in his era. In the early 1600s, Sir John Fletcher was an incredibly popular playwright – sometimes called Shakespeare’s successor. He penned The Faithful Shepherdess around 1608. Clorin is the main character, and Amoret is her fellow sheperdhess. When a meddlesome rival intereferes in Amoret’s romance with her beloved Perigot, Clorin intervenes and ensures that the couple live happily ever after.
More recently Jenny Nimmo’s series, The Children of the Red King, used the name. We learn that Charlie Bone, the main character, is descended from Amoret, daughter of the Red King. Charlie’s adventures slowly reveal the backstory of the Red King dynasty. The first book was published in 2002, and the most recent in 2018.
Amazon optioned the Charlie Bone stories, so it’s possible a new audience will find them should the adaptation hit the screen.
There’s also a tiny town in Missouri called Amoret. Historical records explain the name comes from the Biblical Amorites, inhabitants of Canaan. Except the Old Testament descriptions of the tribe are deeply unflattering, and the spelling isn’t quite right. Still, that’s the story.
HOW POPULAR IS THE NAME AMORET?
Plenty of women appear in the US Census records with the name Amoret.
But how popular is the baby name Amoret?
It’s never ranked in the US Top 1000. As of 2023:
- Fewer than five girls were named Amoret
- Fewer than five girls were named Amoretta
- Amoreta also failed to register in the data
- 20 girls were named Amorette
It’s the spelling Amorette that follows with popular names like Juliette, which now out ranks Juliet.
MORE NAMES MEANING LOVE
While Amoret is rarely heard, plenty of familiar choices mean love, lover, beloved, or something similar.
Former favorites Amy and Amanda both come from the Latin. Esme is an Old French word filtered through Scottish. Carys is Welsh, Kerensa Cornish, and Cara is Italian.
POETIC RARITY
All of the names the baby name Amoret a poetic rarity. It’s a truly unique name, familiar but very seldom heard. With a rich history and a strong literary association, it’s not invented. And what a great meaning for a child’s name!
If you’re looking for a name that mixes warmth with a certain unexpected quality, Amoret – or Amorette – is one to consider.
What do you think of the name Amoret?
First published on January 25, 2011, this post was revised and updated on November 27, 2024.
I find Amoret quite lovely, and I too, thought of something to do with love. (I took French) I also didn’t know that it was from the Faerie Queene, I like that story.
I am not sure if it is usable in real life, but it is very pretty and definately unique with a legitimate history of use.
I wrote a paper in college comparing Belphoebe and Amoret/Amoretta. Love both names! At the time, Belphoebe struck me as the more intriguing of the two. Amoretta seems to fit right in with Clarinda and Phyllida and other over-the-top pastoral poetry sort of names.
Amoret is probably more usable than Amoretta, as it sounds less like the liqueur.
I completely agree that these names are over-the top, but as a always find myself saying with AppMtn NotD names: I’d rather meet Amoretta, Clarinda, and Phyllida over Michaela, Mackenzie, etc. 🙂
I was about to comment about how lovely this name is as an alternative to Juliet et al, until I had someone lean over me and comment: ‘Amoret, like the liqueur?’
Whilst it’s actually Amaretto, I’m having second thoughts about Amoret now.
It’s nice enough. I could never use it although think it’s a step up from the morbid, pint-sized Juliet.
Re: Spenser’s Faerie Queene. This is a good summary for a laugh https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TheFaerieQueene
I had a friend in college named Amorette, nicknamed Amy. I don’t think she was aware of the literary connection, because she always explained that it was a stereotypical Utah Mormon name.
It’s a bit too… what’s the word… cutesy? for my taste. I find I don’t often like names with -et/ette on the end, so that’s probably it.
Also, I kind of feel like it’s Scooby Doo trying to get out “amulet” if that makes sense.
Not bad overall, and I can see the appeal for some, but that’s about it.
I know a woman born in the late 70s named Amret – I wonder if it’s related.
Reminds me of the male name Amaury. We have a French-speaking friend with that name.
Amory is coming up in February!
It would be neat if, with the Sunday Summary, you could add a ‘names to come’ bit.
Me too! I thought ‘aww, how lovely’ when I saw this NotD. And it is lovely, in looks, sound and meaning. I’d consider it; “The Faerie Queen” is easily my favorite read. It’s always on my table.
(Amoret Valentine might be too OTT, but for me it’s worth more than a passing thought or two, I think).
How lovely, indeed. 🙂
Funny.. when I saw the name I immediately thought “little love” and said Awww cute. Could be another middle name contender for a baby born around valentines. I had no idea of her literary connections, how fun. Overall, I think she is wearable in today’s society. Good BNOTD!