# Amelia

/əˈmiɫjə/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/amelia
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. female name

noun · CEFR A1

a popular first name for a girl or woman.

For teachers: a female given name derived from Germanic roots, widely used in English-speaking countries.

- Amelia Earhart was a famous pilot who flew across the Atlantic Ocean.
- The name Amelia has seen a significant resurgence in popularity across Europe and North America over the last two decades.

### 2. medical condition

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a condition where a person is born without one or more arms or legs.

For teachers: the congenital absence of one or more limbs, resulting from a developmental failure during pregnancy.

- The doctor explained that the baby's amelia was a rare birth defect.
- Clinical studies have investigated the potential environmental factors that might contribute to the occurrence of amelia in developing embryos.

Usage: Usually functions as an uncountable noun in a clinical context.

## Examples

- Amelia is starting her new job at the hospital today.
- The teacher called out Amelia's name during the morning roll call to see if she was present.
- Historical records indicate that the name Amelia gained significant popularity in the eighteenth century after the German House of Hanover succeeded to the British throne.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.