Felicia

For many more names, please Return to Edgar's Main Page.

Felicia

Gender: Feminine.
Language: English, Latin
Etymology:
Felicia is a Latin name meaning “Happy,” or “Lucky” from “felis.”
The name Felicity, while not directly based on Felicia, is of the same origin and was originally an English vocabulary word, a synonym for “Happy.”

History:
Felicia, a Roman Christian name meaning “Happy,” was first noted in England at the end of the 12th century. In vernacular, everyday use, Felicia the Latin name became Felice, or Felis (often becoming confused with Phyllis). In Latin written records, Felice remained Felicia. Never really common, Felicia the Latin name was revived in a minor way in the 18th century. In the 20th century, Felicia became fairly common.

The Puritans, with their love of “quality” names” adopted Felicity, an English word of similar origin, as a first name in the mid-17th century. Rare since Puritan times, Felicity made a startling jump at the end of the 20th century, probably due entirely to the television show Felicity, which began in 1998.

Pronunciation: fell-ee-shah, fell-ee-see-ah

Diminutives:
English: Flick, Flicka.
Hungarian: Lícia.

Alternates:
English: Felicity, Felicitas, Felecia, Felicita, Felisha, Felica, Felisa.
French: Felicite, Felice, Felicie.
German: Felicie.
Hungarian: Felícian.
Italian: Felisa, Felìcita.
Polish: Felcia.
Portuguese: Felicidade.
Spanish: Felicidad, Felisa.

Masculine: Felix.

Famous Bearers:
Artists and Authors:
Felicia Dorothea Hemens (1793-1835)
British poet.

Political Figures:
Felisa Rincón de Gautier (1897-1994)
Puerto Rican politician.

Religious Figures:
Felicitas
The Roman goddess of good luck.

Singers and Entertainers:
Felicity Kendal (1947-)
British actress.

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census:
0.068 % named Felicia
0.008 % named Felecia
0.006 % named Felicita
0.004 % named Felisha
0.004 % named Felicitas
0.003 % named Felica
0.003 % named Felice
0.003 % named Felisa
0.001 % named Felicidad

Popularity of Felicia:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1910: 626th most popular.
1910-1920: 575th most popular.
1920-1930: 798th most popular.
1930-1940: 757th most popular.
1940-1950: 841st most popular.
1950-1960: 495th most popular.
1960-1970: 185th most popular.
1970-1980: 135th most popular.
1980-1990: 128th most popular.
1990: 125th most popular.
1991: 126th most popular.
1992: 149th most popular.
1993: 162nd most popular.
1994: 187th most popular.
1995: 217th most popular.
1996: 271st most popular.
1997: 355th most popular.
1998: 377th most popular.
1999: 420th most popular
2000: 484th most popular.
2001: 556th most popular.
2002: 580th most popular.
2003: 701st most popular.

Popularity of Felecia:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1950: N/A
1950-1960: 805th most popular.
1960-1970: 559th most popular.
1970-1980: 744th most popular.
1980-1990: 942nd most popular.
1990-2000: N/A

Popularity of Felisha:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1980: N/A
1980-1990: 954th most popular.
1990: 812th most popular.
1991: 827th most popular.
1992: 862nd most popular.
1993: 935th most popular.
1994: N/A

Popularity of Felicita:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-1910: 570th most popular.
1910-1920: 418th most popular.
1920-1930: 394th most popular.
1930-1940: 364th most popular.
1940-1950: 482nd most popular.
1950-1960: 718th most popular.
1960-2000: N/A

Popularity of Felicity:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1900-2000: N/A
1998: N/A
1999: 401st most popular.
2000: 451st most popular.
2001: 507th most popular.
2002: 553rd most popular.
2003: 625th most popular.

Popularity of Felicie:
Popularity (for newborns):
In France...
1900: 88th most popular.
1910: 101st most popular.
1920: 133rd most popular.
1930: 186th most popular.
1932: 196th most popular.
1940-2000: N/A

Popularity of Felicite:
Popularity (for newborns):
In France...
1900: 120th most popular.
1910: 180th most popular.
1915: 198th most popular.
1920-2000: N/A