Felicia is a feminine given name of Latin origin. It comes from the Latin word "felix", which means "happy" or "lucky". The name Felicia is composed of the prefix "fe-" meaning "to make" and "-lixia" meaning "happiness". Therefore, Felicia literally translates to "she who brings happiness".
The name Felicia has been in use since the Middle Ages, but it was not particularly popular until the 20th century. In the United States, for example, Felicia became a popular choice among parents during the late 1980s and early 1990s, peaking at its highest popularity ranking of number 365 in 1990.
Felicia has been associated with several notable figures throughout history. One famous bearer of the name is Felicia Dorothea Hermine Augustus of Anhalt-Dessau (1746-1827), a German princess who became the wife of Frederick William II, King of Prussia. Another notable figure is Felicia Skene (1905-1997), a Canadian writer and humanitarian who was known for her works on social issues and women's rights.
Today, Felicia continues to be used as a given name for girls around the world, although its popularity has declined since the 1990s. It remains a timeless choice for parents seeking a unique yet meaningful name for their daughter.
The name Felicia experienced a significant increase in popularity from the late 1950s onwards, with a notable spike starting around 1960. Between 1950 and 1959, there were approximately 8,732 births, but this number more than doubled to nearly 20,000 between 1960 and 1969. The name reached its peak popularity in the early 1970s, with over 24,000 births recorded in 1971 alone. However, starting from the late 1970s, the popularity of the name began to decline steadily, reaching a low point in recent years with fewer than 50 births per year since 2016.
In total, there have been 91,040 births recorded with the name Felicia between 1880 and 2023.