Drusilla

Etymology and Origin

Drusilla is a feminine diminutive of the Roman family name Drusus. The Roman cognomen Drusus is believed to have come from the Greek word drosos (δρόσος), meaning "dew." Alternatively, tradition holds that the first bearer of the name was a Roman warrior who killed a Gallic chieftain named Drausus, with Drausus possibly deriving from a Celtic element meaning "strong." The suffix -illa formed the feminine diminutive, so Drusilla literally means "little Drusus."

Historical and Cultural Significance

Drusilla was a name used among the Roman aristocracy, particularly within the Julio-Claudian dynasty. Notable bearers included Livia Drusilla, the wife of Emperor Augustus; Julia Drusilla the Elder, a sister of Emperor Caligula; and Julia Drusilla the Younger, Caligula's daughter. The name also spread to the provinces: Mauretanian princess Drusilla and the Herodian princess Drusilla (wife of the Roman procurator Felix) were named in their honor. This Herodian Drusilla appears in the New Testament (Acts 24:24) as the wife of Felix, which contributed to the name's adoption among Christian populations. In the Bible, she is mentioned as a Jewish princess listening to the apostle Paul.

Usage and Variants

As a biblical name, Drusilla was adopted by English speakers in the 17th century. Nevertheless, it has never been very popular; in the United States according to Social Security Administration records, from 1880 to 1914 its highest ranking was relatively low. A related form in Biblical Greek is Drousilla.

Notable Bearers

• Livia Drusilla (58 BC–AD 29), Roman empress, wife of Augustus.
• Julia Drusilla (AD 16–38), sister of Caligula, deified after death.
• Drusilla (daughter of Caligula) (AD 39–41), briefly styled as queen.
• Drusilla of Mauretania (born AD 38), princess of the Mauretanian kingdom.
• Drusilla (daughter of Herod Agrippa) (AD 38–79), Herod?ja princess who married Felix.

• Meaning: feminine diminutive of Drusus, possibly "dew" or "strong"
• Origin: Roman/Latin, also linked to Celtic and Greek roots
• Type: Feminine given name
• Usage regions: Rome, Biblical context, English world (17th century onward)