Amber Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Amber originates from the Arabic and Persian words referring to ambergris, which is linked to fossilized tree resin. It evolved through Arabic and French before becoming established in English. The name signifies warmth and natural beauty, has no biblical relevance, and gained popularity in the 20th century. It is often viewed positively and is associated with a contemporary and nature-related image.
The name Amber is most popular in Alaska, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Millennials (Gen Y) generation in the South region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is declining in usage, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been gradually declining. From 2020-2022, Amber has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, too falling for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, too falling for female in South, stalled for male in West, falling for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, too rising for female in MidWest, falling for female in Northeast, stalled for male in South, too rising for female in South, stalled for male in West, falling for female in West. Across generations, 'Amber' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 7552nd out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 2805th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1769th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 8864th out of 24088 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1185th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1664th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 710th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 88th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 17th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 79th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 429th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Amber' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Amber"
Pronunciation
/ˈæm.bər/
Origin
Arabic and Persian
Etymology
The name Amber is derived from the Arabic word 'anbar', which refers to ambergris, a substance used in perfumery. It was later adopted into French, where it referred to the fossilized tree resin that is often used as a gemstone.
Meaning
fossilized tree resin
Language Evolution
anbar (Arabic), ambre (French), amber (English)
Historical Usage
The name Amber gained popularity in the 20th century, particularly in the United States, as a given name for girls, reflecting a trend of using nature-inspired names.
Variants & Derivatives
Ambra, Ambre, Ammber
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Amber is perceived as a warm and vibrant name, often associated with beauty and nature. It remains a popular choice for girls in various cultures.
Famous People
Amber Heard, Amber Riley, Amber Tamblyn
Explore More Amber Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Amber"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Amber"
"Amber" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 7552nd of 7552 | 5 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 2805th of 10718 | 202 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 1769th of 16616 | 665 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 8864th of 24088 | 107 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 1185th of 9107 | 724 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 1664th of 9204 | 425 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 710th of 12526 | 3,495 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 88th of 19264 | 63,211 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 17th of 27321 | 233,318 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 79th of 35406 | 63,792 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 429th of 30306 | 8,946 |
Regional Popularity of "Amber" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - |
54.72% 1925th/3518 |
55.96% 2263rd/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
61.30% 2259th/3685 |
- |
33.85% 1758th/5194 |
33.69% 2128th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - |
57.95% 4238th/7313 |
- |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Amber" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
60.59% 858th/1416 |
72.66% 1002nd/1379 |
- | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
71.73% 1109th/1546 |
94.15% 1465th/1556 |
- |
91.01% 1408th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
29.01% 646th/2227 |
34.12% 829th/2430 |
28.92% 825th/2853 |
20.22% 561st/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
2.86% 84th/2937 |
5.25% 183rd/3483 |
2.64% 93rd/3518 |
1.09% 44th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
0.38% 14th/3685 |
0.83% 37th/4475 |
0.17% 9th/5194 |
0.25% 16th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
1.94% 89th/4582 |
1.53% 79th/5164 |
0.81% 59th/7313 |
1.39% 104th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
14.43% 575th/3984 |
7.78% 349th/4487 |
7.40% 505th/6822 |
5.23% 328th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "Amber"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Amber" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.