Amanda
/əˈmændə/
noun
Origin
Latin
amanda — she who is to be loved
Overview
Meaning Now
- A female given name derived from Latin.
Literal older meaning
worthy of being loved
Language path
Latin → English
Earliest form
Amanda
Earliest period
17th century
Journey
The name Amanda is a gerundive from the Latin verb 'amare' (to love). In Latin, 'amanda' means 'she who must be loved' or 'worthy of love'. It was not used as a common personal name in antiquity but was revived and popularized in the 17th century by British writers, becoming a staple name in 18th-century English literature.
Evolution
- Latin
amandus
“lovable or worthy of love”
Gerundive form of the verb amare.
- 17th-century English
Amanda
“Literary character name”
Popularized by playwrights such as Colley Cibber.
Connections
Word parts
amand-
root
love
-a
ending
feminine marker
Explore next
Related to Amanda
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.