Meaning & History
Felicity is a feminine given name of English origin meaning "happiness." It derives from the Latin word felicitas, meaning "luck" or "good fortune," and is ultimately related to the Ancient Roman goddess Fortuna, who embodied prosperity and luck. The name also functions as an English form of the Latin name Felicitas, which itself was borne by a 2nd-century saint, Saint Felicity of Rome, venerated in the Roman Catholic Church. As a Latin feminine name, Felicitas is also linked to the masculine Felix, meaning "lucky" or "successful."
History and Usage
Felicity emerged as a virtue name in the 17th century, adopted by the Puritans as part of their tradition of naming children after abstract virtues. Prior to the Victorian era, the Latinized Felicia and its vernacular form Felice were more common in English-speaking countries. However, Felicity gained traction in the 20th century. Its popularity in the United States spiked after the 1998 premiere of the television series Felicity, while it has remained consistently more popular in the United Kingdom.
The name has multiple variant forms across languages: French Félicité, Spanish Felicitas, German Felizitas, Hungarian Felicitás and Zita 2, and Italian Felicita. Traditional English diminutives include Flick, as well as Fliss, Flossie, Liccy, Lissa, and many others. Stylistically, Felicity is often classified as a classic, elegant name with literary associations.
- Meaning: happiness, good luck
- Origin: English, derived from Latin felicitas
- Type: feminine given name
- Usage regions: English-speaking world, especially United Kingdom and United States
- Related names: Felicitas, Felix, Felicia, Félicité
Related Names
Sources: Wikipedia — Felicity (given name)