Camilla or Camila is a feminine given name. It originates as the feminine of camillus, a term for a youth serving as
acolyte in the ritual of ancient Roman religion, which may be of
Etruscan origin.[1]Hypocorisms of the name include
Milly,
Millie, and
Milla.
History
The name
Camillo is the Italian male version of Camilla.
Camillus came to be used as a
cognomen in Rome, and Camilla would be the feminine form of this cognomen from a period when cognomina had become hereditary clan names.
The most notable bearer of this name in Roman history is
Marcus Furius Camillus (c. 446 – 365 BC), who according to
Livy and
Plutarch,
triumphed four times, was five times
dictator, and was honoured with the title of "Second Founder of Rome".
In the Aeneid,
Camilla was the name of a queen of the
Volsci who was given as a servant to the goddess
Diana and raised as a "warrior virgin" of the
Amazon type.
In the English-speaking world, the name was popularized by
Fanny Burney's novel Camilla of 1796.
Popularity
The name, with the spelling Camila, has been particularly popular among
Spanish speakers.[2][3] Camila was among the five most popular names for
Hispanic newborn girls in the
American state of
Virginia in 2022 and again in 2023.[4][5]
People with the given name Camilla
Camilla Rodolfi (
fl. 1449), Italian commander of a group of women
This page or section lists people that share the same
given name. If an
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