Felicia

Last updated
Felicia
GenderFemale
Origin
Word/name Latin
MeaningHappiness
Other names
Short form(s)Licia, Fish, Lica, Elle, Fliss, Felly, Lish, Fia, Ellie, Flea, Feli
Related names Felix, Felicity, Félicie

The name Felicia derives from the Latin adjective felix , meaning "happy, lucky", though in the neuter plural form felicia it literally means "happy things" and often occurred in the phrase tempora felicia, "happy times". The sense of it as a feminine personal name appeared in post-Classical use and is of uncertain origin. It is associated with saints, poets, astronomical objects, plant genera, fictional characters, and animals, especially cats.

Contents

Cultural associations

The name has been in regular use and was particularly popular with Spanish speakers in the United States in the late 1980s and early 1990s. It remained among the 1,000 most popular names for American girls until 2005 but has since declined in use. The name was among the top 10 most popular names for girls in Sweden in the 1990s and remained among the top 100 names for Swedish girls until 2022. [1] [2]

The name is associated in American English with “Bye, Felicia”, an informal phrase and internet meme intended as a dismissive send-off, wherein a person or idea is rendered so unimportant his or her name is reduced to "Felicia." The phrase or meme is used to mock a person who causes annoyance. [3]

People

Fictional characters

Other uses

References

  1. https://www.behindthename.com/name/felicia
  2. https://nameberry.com/b/girl-baby-name-felicia
  3. Tait, Amelia (24 January 2018). "Karen, Sharon, Becky, and Chad: How it feels when your name becomes a meme". newstatesman.com. New Statesman. Retrieved 26 January 2025.