Amela

Amela is a feminine given name derived from the Arabic root ʾamala, meaning “to hope for.” It is essentially a Bosnian feminine form of the name Amal, which signifies “hope” or “aspiration.” The name reflects the influence of Islamic culture in the Balkans, where Arabic-derived names are common among Bosniaks.

Origin and Linguistic Background

The name Amela is rooted in the Arabic word amal (أمل), meaning “hope.” It arrived in the Balkans through the spread of Islam and was adapted into local linguistic patterns. In Bosnian, the feminine form Amela contrasts with the masculine Amel, mirroring common Slavic gender endings (-a for feminine, -∅ or -o for masculine). An alternative masculine spelling is Amel, worn, for example, by Bosnian footballer Amel Mujčinović.

Amela is also a surname. Notable bearer Víctor Amela (born 1960) is a Spanish writer and journalist, though his surname has different roots.

Geographic Distribution

According to given-name frequency records, Amela has higher prevalence in Bosnia and Herzegovina, followed by Serbia, Portugal, and Spain. Within the United States, it has a relatively low ranking, reflecting its concentration in Balkan communities.

While it may overlap with a South Slavic origin, Amela is distinct in meaning: the amila-homophonous Islamic-derived version translates “hope”, unlike the unrelated Slavic roots.

Notable Bearers

Several athletes bear the name:

• Amela Fetahović, a Bosnian football player.
• Amela Kršo (born 1994), a Bosnian football player.
• Amela Terzić (born 1993), a Serbian middle-distance runner.

Related Names

Masculine forms include Amel and the root Amal. The name also has an alternative variant Amila, which is also popular among Bosniaks.

• Meaning: hope, aspiration
• Origin: Arabic, via Bosnian
• Type: Feminine given name
• Usage regions: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Balkans, Serbia, Spain, Portugal