Amaryllis as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Amaryllis

What is the meaning of the name Amaryllis ?

The baby name Amaryllis is a Female name , 4 syllables long and is pronounced AM-uh-RIL-iss (IPA: /ˌæməˈrɪlɪs/).

Amaryllis is Greek in Origin.

Amaryllis derives from the Ancient Greek Amarýllis (Αμαρυλλίς), linked to the verb amarysso/amaryssein “to sparkle, to shine.” In Hellenistic and Roman pastoral poetry it names a beloved shepherdess; Theocritus and Virgil both address Amaryllis in their Idylls and Eclogues. Renaissance and Baroque composers revived the figure - most famously in Caccini’s aria “Amarilli, mia bella.” The botanical genus was named by Linnaeus, cementing the association with the striking winter-blooming flower often symbolizing radiant beauty, pride, and determination.

As a given name in the English-speaking world, Amaryllis surfaced intermittently from the 17th century and gained favor during the 19th-century vogue for classical and floral names; it remains uncommon yet recognizable today. International variants include Spanish Amarilis, Portuguese Amarílis, Italian Amarilli, and Greek Amarýllis, with French retaining Amaryllis. Related spellings such as Amarillis or Amarilys also appear. The name conveys luminous grace with a lyrical, pastoral heritage.