Felix is a name of Latin origin, meaning "happy" or "lucky". It was derived from the Latin word 'felix', which itself comes from 'felare' meaning "to make prosperous". The name Felix has been used throughout history and has had several notable figures associated with it.
The earliest known use of the name Felix can be traced back to ancient Rome. There were two Roman emperors named Felix: Lucius Septimius Felix (reigned 206-211 AD) and Gaius Vettulenus Verres Felix (died after 57 BC). Additionally, Saint Felix was a Christian martyr who lived during the 3rd century AD.
In medieval times, the name Felix became popular among Europeans due to its association with various saints. One of these saints was Saint Felix of Nola, an Italian bishop whose fame led to many churches being dedicated in his honor across Europe.
During the Middle Ages, it was also customary for children born during periods of happiness or prosperity to be named Felix as a way to ensure continued good fortune.
The name Felix has remained popular throughout history and continues to be used today. Some famous people who share this name include Felix Mendelssohn (a German composer), Felix Frankfurter (an American jurist), and Felix Baumgartner (an Austrian skydiver). Despite its long history, the name Felix remains fresh and appealing due to its simple yet meaningful origin.
The name Felix experienced significant fluctuations in popularity over the past century and a half. In its early years, from 1880 to around 1910, it maintained a steady pace with an average of about 85 births per year. However, starting from 1912, there was a substantial increase, reaching a peak in 1916 with 692 births.
Post-World War I, the popularity of the name Felix declined significantly, dropping below 400 births annually by the mid-1930s. This trend continued until the late 1940s when the numbers started to rise again, reaching a post-war peak in 1957 with 648 births.
From the 1960s onwards, the popularity of the name Felix has generally followed an upward trend, with some fluctuations. It reached another peak in 2022 with 1973 births, marking a significant resurgence in its popularity after over a century of variable usage.