Camelia is a Romanian feminine given name derived directly from the Romanian word camelie, the spelling of the camellia flower. The name ultimately comes from Camellia, the name of the flowering shrub, which was named after the botanist and missionary Georg Josef Kamel. Etymology The root is the same as the English name Camellia, making Camelia a floral name. The flower's association is one of beauty and delicate appearance, common among names inspired by plants. Notable Bearers Camelia is a known female name in Romania. Notable Romanian figures include Camelia Potec (born 1982), a swimmer who won an Olympic gold medal in 2004; Camelia Macoviciuc-Mihalcea (born 1968) and Camelia Diaconescu (born 1963), both rowers; Camelia Voinea (born 1970), an artistic gymnast; and Camelia Hotea (born 1984), a handball player. Outside Romania, the name appears in other cultures: Camelia (1929–1950) was an Egyptian actress, Camélia Jordana (born 1992) is a French singer, Camelia Malik (born 1955) an Indonesian singer, and Dayang Noor Camelia Abang Khalid (born 1974), known as Camelia, a Malaysian singer. In Canada–based filmmaking, Camelia Frieberg (born 1959) is a film director and producer. In the English form, Camellia and diminutive forms like Cam are also used. Among related names are Bulgarian Kameliya and French Camélia. Cultural Significance Floral names are popular across many cultures for their association with nature, beauty, and femininity. Camellia flowers are native to East Asia and were introduced to Europe in the 17th century, later becoming garden plants of elegance. The name Camelia carries similar gentle and romantic undertones and is most commonly associated with Romania. Meaning: Feminine name from the camellia flower. Origin: Romanian; ultimately from Camellia. Type: Feminine given name Usage: Romanian, with international variants in Bulgarian, English, French.