America Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name 'America' originates from the Latin version of 'Amerigo', the name of explorer Amerigo Vespucci. It means 'Land of Amerigo' and has evolved from its initial use in the early 16th century to represent the continents of North and South America. The name is often associated with freedom and opportunity, although it carries complex cultural implications. There is no biblical relevance to the name.
The name America is most popular in Nevada, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Girl name among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) generation in the West 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 maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, America has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, falling for female in South, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for female in MidWest, stalled for female in Northeast, stalled for female in South, stalled for female in West. Across generations, 'America' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 6451st out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 6773rd out of 6773 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 1257th out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 2038th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 2969th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 2050th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 1712th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 599th out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 1269th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'America' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "America"
Pronunciation
/əˈmɛrɪkə/
Origin
Latin
Etymology
The name 'America' is derived from the Latin version of the name of the Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci, who played a significant role in the exploration of the New World in the late 15th and early 16th centuries.
Meaning
Land of Amerigo
Language Evolution
Amerigo (Italian), America (Latin)
Historical Usage
The name 'America' was first used to refer to the continent in a map published in 1507 by Martin Waldseemüller, leading to its widespread acceptance over the following centuries.
Variants & Derivatives
Americas, United States of America, America Latina
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, 'America' is often associated with the United States, symbolizing freedom and opportunity, although it can sometimes evoke complex feelings related to global influence and politics.
Famous People
America Ferrera, America Olivo
Explore More America Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "America"
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 "America"
"America" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 6451st of 7545 | 11 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 6773rd of 6773 | 5 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 1257th of 9107 | 658 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 2038th of 9204 | 312 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 2969th of 12526 | 293 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 2050th of 19264 | 666 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 1712th of 27321 | 1,252 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 599th of 35406 | 7,652 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 1269th of 30306 | 2,252 |
Regional Popularity of "America" 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) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "America" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- |
68.60% 946th/1379 |
42.69% 1010th/2366 |
- |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- |
94.15% 1465th/1556 |
56.23% 1323rd/2353 |
- |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- |
72.51% 1762nd/2430 |
67.23% 1918th/2853 |
85.12% 2362nd/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
82.43% 2421st/2937 |
75.48% 2629th/3483 |
38.91% 1369th/3518 |
28.91% 1169th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
62.01% 2285th/3685 |
79.42% 3554th/4475 |
28.61% 1486th/5194 |
15.86% 1002nd/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
19.53% 895th/4582 |
34.06% 1759th/5164 |
8.48% 620th/7313 |
4.82% 360th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
46.29% 1844th/3984 |
62.47% 2803rd/4487 |
17.44% 1190th/6822 |
13.54% 850th/6276 |
State-by-State Popularity of "America"
This map shows the relative popularity of "America" 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.