Amaryllis — Meaning, Origin & Everything to Know

Amaryllis is an Greek name carrying the meaning 'to sparkle, to shine; (the flower)'. Within the Greek world, Amaryllis sits in a tradition where myth, philosophy and the early church gave these names their vivid, picture-like meanings. Amaryllis offers a daughter the idea of beauty, delicacy and natural grace, wrapped in a sound that works almost anywhere. Many families warm to the sound of Amaryllis first, then find the meaning of 'to sparkle, to shine; (the flower)' gives it staying power. Amaryllis appeals to families after a name with real roots — here, the Greek word for 'to sparkle, to shine; (the flower)'. Below you'll find everything about Amaryllis — etymology, popularity, the personality people attach to it, its numerology number, and names that pair well with it.

What Does the Name Amaryllis Mean?

At its core, Amaryllis carries the meaning 'to sparkle, to shine; (the flower)', rooted in Greek.

The early history of Amaryllis belongs to the Greek world, where 'to sparkle, to shine; (the flower)' was a quality worth naming a child for. Amaryllis survived centuries of use precisely because 'to sparkle, to shine; (the flower)' stayed legible — the meaning never drifted far.

Modern parents tend to hear Amaryllis as fresh rather than old-fashioned, with 'to sparkle, to shine; (the flower)' giving it a positive, aspirational edge. The result is a name in Amaryllis that feels both usable and meaningful — its appeal in the 2020s in a nutshell.

The imagery around Amaryllis is one of beauty, delicacy and natural grace, deepened by the Greek tradition behind it.

Origin & Etymology of Amaryllis

Greek · Greek

Trace Amaryllis back and you reach Greek and the meaning 'to sparkle, to shine; (the flower)'. In the Greek tradition myth, philosophy and the early church gave these names their vivid, picture-like meanings, and Amaryllis fits squarely into that pattern. Amaryllis spread outward with migration, recognised now well beyond its Greek origin and worn across very different cultures. Rather than a single headline bearer, Amaryllis owes its survival to generation-after-generation use. Now Amaryllis works as both a nod to roots and a thoroughly usable everyday name.

Within Greek culture, Amaryllis connects to enduring values through its idea of beauty, delicacy and natural grace. As Amaryllis spread internationally it was received warmly and adopted by families well beyond its origin — a sign of a name that crosses cultural lines gracefully. Regional forms of Amaryllis exist, yet 'to sparkle, to shine; (the flower)' usually stays intact across them. That rooted-yet-portable quality is much of why Amaryllis is chosen by parents from such varied backgrounds.

How to Pronounce Amaryllis

A-ma-ryl-lis — A simple guide for Amaryllis is A-ma-ryl-lis. From Greek roots: vowels are open and clearly sounded.