Felicia is a feminine given name derived from the Latin felix, meaning "happy, lucky," with the neuter plural felicia literally translating as "happy things" and often appearing in the phrase tempora felicia ("happy times"). While the Latin adjective felix was widely used in antiquity as a cognomen (as seen on the Roman general Sulla), the feminine personal name Felicia emerged in post-Classical Latin, likely as a feminine form of Felix. It may have originated as a substantive use of the neuter plural adjective meaning "happy times" or directly from the masculine name Felix, which was popular among early Christians due to its auspicious meaning and was borne by multiple saints and four popes. History and Usage Felicia has been used in England since the Middle Ages, though it remained less common than the continental European forms. In the United States, the name saw heightened popularity among Spanish speakers in the late 1980s and early 1990s. It ranked among the top 1,000 names for American girls until 2005, after which it declined in use. In Sweden, Felicia was among the top 10 names in the 1990s and remained in the top 100 through 2022. Variants and Related Names Felicia has several variants, including Felecia (used in English and African American contexts), Felisha (English), and Felisa (Spanish). Diminutives include Lisha and Lecia. The name appears in other languages as Félicie (French), Felicie (German), Felícia (Portuguese), and Felicja (Polish). The inherently masculine Felicius is the Late Roman masculine form. Cultural Significance Perceived as a happy, lucky name, Felicia is associated with several saints, including one commemorated on January 23. In popular culture, the name gained a somewhat niche association with the phrase "Bye, Felicia," popularized in the 1995 film Friday, though this does not diminish the name's long-standing positive etymology. Meaning: "happy, lucky" (from Latin felix) Origin: Late Latin, feminine form of Felix Type: First name, feminine Usage Regions: English, Dutch, Italian, Romanian, Spanish, Swedish, Medieval Latin