"of the flowering camellia shrub"
Origin: Latin (Camellus, honoring botanist Kamel)
Language: English
Camellia
Does Camellia flow with your last name?
Blooming with elegance — named for Asia's most beloved flower
American
English
East Asian
Elegant
Botanical
Vintage
Sophisticated
Gentle
Reviewed by the NamingEverything Editorial Team · Updated
Share
Similar Names
Names Like Camellia
Same sound, same style — different options
Nicknames
Nicknames for Camellia
4 shorthand options for every setting
Meaning & Origin
"eternal beauty, unblemished love"
Origin: Japanese/Chinese cultural tradition
Language: Japanese
Browse names with similar meanings:
Playground Safety
Kid-Friendly
Similar to Camellia
See all →What the Camellia report tells you
$9Personalized to your state, siblings, and priorities. Free playground safety preview included.
Is Camellia the #1 name in your state, or barely on the radar?
Enter your other kids' names. We score how well they sound together.
Downloadable PDF + nursery art
Everything in one printable report. Frame the name art.
Start with a free preview
Playground safety check is free. Full report is $9.
What do you want to do with this name?
Keep Camellia
Add it to your shortlist. Not losing this one.
Compare names
Put Camellia head-to-head with your other picks.
Start comparing →
Nickname ideas
See what Camellia actually gets called.
Browse nicknames →
What kind of baby name person are you?
3 minutes to find names that fit your style.
Take the Quiz
The Story of Camellia
Camellia takes its name from the flowering plant genus Camellia, which in turn was named by Carl Linnaeus in honor of Georg Josef Kamel (1661-1706), a Jesuit lay brother, botanist, and missionary in the Philippines who provided detailed botanical descriptions of Asian plants to European scientists. Kamel's name was Latinized as 'Camellus,' and Linnaeus honored him posthumously. The camellia flower, native to eastern Asia, has been cultivated in Japan and China for over a thousand years as a symbol of love, adoration, and perfection.
Camellia has risen steadily as parents seek sophisticated floral names beyond Rose and Lily. It sits in elegant company with Magnolia, Dahlia, and Viola, offering a more unusual option in the floral name category.
In Japan, the tsubaki (camellia) is a sacred flower associated with the Shinto religion and used in tea ceremonies. In the US South, camellias are beloved garden flowers and the state flower of Alabama. Coco Chanel famously adopted the white camellia as her signature emblem.
Historical Record
Camellia first appeared in US Social Security records in 1950.
Over 2,841 babies have been named Camellia in the United States since SSA records began.
Today, Camellia is a hidden gem — rare but distinctive , currently ranked #1,541 for girl names in the US .
Fun Facts
- Coco Chanel chose the white camellia as the symbol of her fashion house because it has no perfume — unusual for a flower — mirroring her preference for her own creations
- The camellia was introduced to Europe in the late 17th century and caused a sensation in Victorian England, with rare specimens selling for enormous sums
- Alexandre Dumas fils wrote 'La Dame aux Camélias' (1848), the story of a courtesan who wore camellias — inspiring Verdi's opera La Traviata
Camellia in Other Languages
French
Camélia
Korean
동백 (Dongbaek)
Chinese
山茶花 (Shānchá huā)
Spanish
Camelia
Japanese
カメリア (Kameria)
Popularity Over Time
#1,541
Current Rank
Rising
Trend
Hidden Gem
Based on SSA data 1880–present
Year-by-year popularity data will be available soon.
Famous People Named Camellia
G
Georg Josef Kamel
Scientist
1661
Jesuit botanist and missionary whose name was Latinized as 'Camellus' by Linnaeus, giving the camellia flower its name
M
Marguerite Gautier (La Dame aux Camélias) Fictional
Other
Fictional protagonist of Alexandre Dumas fils' 1848 novel and basis for Verdi's opera La Traviata — a courtesan who wore...
Fictional protagonist of Alexandre Dumas fils' 1848 novel and basis for Verdi's opera La Traviata — a courtesan who wore camellias as her symbol
Names You Might Also Love
See all →
Zaya
Girl
"modern invented name"
#1,414
Judy
Girl
"praised"
#1,652
Emberlee
Girl
"ember (glowing fire)"
#1,423
Azuri
Girl
"sky blue, azure color"
#1,618
Amiya
Girl
"night rain (poetic)"
#1,421
Compare Camellia with:
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Girl
- Syllables
- 4
- Popularity Rank
- #1,541
- Total SSA Count
- 138
- Cultural Origins
- American English East Asian
- Pronunciation
- Moderate
- Formality
- Formal
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- Moderate
Alternative Spellings
Common Nicknames
Cammie
Cam
Millie
Melly
Middle Name Ideas
Suggested pairings based on syllable flow and style
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, balanced 3-2 syllable flow
-
Classic pairing, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, English heritage match, balanced 3-2 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
-
Timeless choice, smooth 3-1 syllable flow
Middle Names
Middle Names for Camellia
6 name pairings with syllable flow tips
Sibling Names
Sibling Match
Premium
Check how Camellia fits with existing sibling names — style, sound, and origin.
Enter sibling names above to see compatibility.
Similar Names
See all names like Camellia →For Parents
amz
Start a baby registry
Free welcome box on Amazon
The Baby Name Wizard
Names that age well — book
Nursery name sign
Personalized wooden letters
We may earn a commission from these links.
Compare Camellia with...
Same Origin Names (American)
See all American names →Names with Similar Meaning
Names that share meaning themes with Camellia
Can't decide?
Start a tournament bracket with Camellia and other names you're considering.
Start a TournamentLike this name?
Check how Camellia sounds with your surname and test for potential nicknames.
Analyze This NameExplore More Generators
-
🧝
Fantasy Name Generator
Create names for D&D and RPG characters
-
🐾
Pet Name Generator
Find the perfect name for your furry friend
-
🎭
Character Name Generator
Names for fictional characters across genres
Names You Might Also Like
View all →
Zaya
Girl
American origin
"modern invented name"
#1,414 in US
Judy
Girl
Hebrew origin
"praised"
#1,652 in US
Emberlee
Girl
Old English æmyrge origin
"ember (glowing fire)"
#1,423 in US
Azuri
Girl
Arabic via Old French origin
"sky blue, azure color"
#1,618 in US
Amiya
Girl
South Asian poetic tradition origin
"night rain (poetic)"
#1,421 in US
Emmalynn
Girl
Germanic/Welsh compound origin
"complete and lake-pure"
#1,506 in US
Nasya
Girl
Hebrew origin
"miracle of God"
#1,656 in US
Alessa
Girl
Greek origin
"defender of mankind"
#1,683 in US
Save Your Name Card
Download a shareable image with Camellia's meaning, origin, and popularity. Ready for Instagram, Pinterest, or texting to your partner.
Frequently Asked Questions About Camellia
What does the name Camellia mean?
"of the flowering camellia shrub" (from Latin (Camellus, honoring botanist Kamel)). "eternal beauty, unblemished love" (from Japanese/Chinese cultural tradition). Camellia takes its name from the flowering plant genus Camellia, which in turn was named by Carl Linnaeus in honor of Georg Josef Kamel (1661-1706), a Jesuit lay brother, botanist, and missionary in the Philippines who provided detailed botanical descriptions of Asian plants to European scientists. Kamel's name was Latinized as 'Camellus,' and Linnaeus honored him posthumously. The camellia flower, native to eastern Asia, has been cultivated in Japan and China for over a thousand years as a symbol of love, adoration, and perfection.
What is the origin of the name Camellia?
Camellia has Latin (Camellus, honoring botanist Kamel), Japanese/Chinese cultural tradition, American, English, and East Asian origins. In Latin (Camellus, honoring botanist Kamel), it means "of the flowering camellia shrub". In Japanese/Chinese cultural tradition, it means "eternal beauty, unblemished love".
Is Camellia a boy or girl name?
Camellia is primarily used as a girl name.
How popular is the name Camellia?
Camellia is currently ranked #1541 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
What are common nicknames for Camellia?
Common nicknames for Camellia include Cammie, Cam, Millie, and Melly.
What are good middle names for Camellia?
Popular middle name pairings include Camellia Rose, Camellia Jane, Camellia Grace, Camellia Mae, Camellia Elise, and Camellia Anne.
What are good sibling names for Camellia?
Names that pair well with Camellia as siblings include Violet, Jasmine, Theodore, Magnolia, Fern, and Sebastian.
How many syllables does Camellia have?
Camellia has 4 syllables, making it distinctive and rhythmic.
Is Camellia a common or rare name?
Camellia is an uncommon name, ranked #1541 in the US. Its rarity gives it a distinctive, memorable quality.
What girl names are similar to Camellia?
About the Name Camellia
Camellia is a girl name with American, English, and East Asian origins . The name means "of the flowering camellia shrub" in Latin (Camellus, honoring botanist Kamel) .
Camellia is currently ranked #1,541 in popularity for girl names in the United States.
The name Camellia has 4 syllables, making it distinctive and memorable.
Common nicknames for Camellia include Cammie, Cam, Millie, and Melly. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Alternative spellings of Camellia include Cameron, Cameryn, Camelia, Cameran . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.
Keep Exploring
Latin (Camellus, honoring botanist Kamel) Names
Browse all names with this origin
C
Names Starting with C
More girl names like Camellia
Rising Names
Names gaining popularity right now
Name Personality Quiz
Find names that match your style
Name Swiper
Swipe through names, build a shortlist fast
Browse All Girl Names
Full list with filters and sorting
Recommended for Parents
amz
Start a registry
Free welcome box on Amazon
Baby Name Wizard
Names that actually age well
Nursery name sign
Personalized wooden letters
We may earn a commission from these links.
Sources
- U.S. Social Security Administration — National Baby Names Data (popularity rankings and historical trends)
- Behind the Name (etymology and meaning research)
- NamingEverything editorial research and analysis