Gelia, of Latin origin, means "calm" or "still". It is an uncommon but captivating feminine given name that was popularized by the Italian Renaissance poet and humanist Giovanni Boccaccio in his literary masterpiece, The Decameron. In the story, Gelia is one of the seven ladies who escape to a villa outside Florence during the Black Death. The name has since been associated with intelligence, culture, and resilience, much like its literary namesake.
"Gelia was quite popular in 1916 with five babies being named thus."