Fidelia is a feminine given name derived from the Latin fidelis, meaning "faithful". It is the feminine form of Fidel, which itself comes from the Late Latin name Fidelis, a derivative of fides (faith). The name gained prominence in the 16th century through its appearance in Edmund Spenser's epic poem The Faerie Queene (1590), where Fidelia is the sister of Speranza (Hope) and represents the virtue of Faith. Historical Usage and Cultural Significance Fidelia was adopted by Puritans as a virtue name in the 17th century, part of a broader trend of using abstract, pious names like Faith, Hope, and Charity. It enjoyed particular popularity in the 19th century, especially in English-speaking countries, and remains in use in Spanish-speaking regions as well. Related variants include Fidela. Notable bearers include Fidelia Bridges (1834–1923), an American artist known for her detailed watercolors of birds and nature; Fidelia Fielding (1827–1908), a member of the Mohegan Pequot people and the last known traditional speaker of the Mohegan Pequot language; and Fidelia Fisk (1816–1864), an American Congregationalist missionary who worked among the Zulus in South Africa. Other bearers include Fidelia Brindis Camacho (1889–1972), a Mexican teacher, journalist, and women's rights activist; and Fidelia Heard (1822–1895), whose initial contributions to research on Heard Island in the Antarctic were named for her. Distribution Fidelia is most common in Spanish-speaking countries and the United States, where it saw peak usage in the latter half of the 19th century. It remains a relatively rare but enduring name. Meaning: Faithful Origin: Latin Type: Virtue name Usage regions: Spain, Latin America, United States, other English-speaking countries