noun
Uncommon
Amelia
uh-MEE-lee-uh
Amelia (noun) means a rare birth condition in which a baby is born missing one or more limbs. Example: “The clinic specializes in prosthetics for children born with amelia.”
noun
1
A rare birth condition in which a baby is born missing one or more limbs.
"The clinic specializes in prosthetics for children born with amelia."
name
1
A female given name of Germanic origin, associated with strength or vigor.
"She named her daughter Amelia after her grandmother."
"In September 2023, Amelia Stafford was 15 and beginning her sophomore year at Terra Linda High School in eastern Marin County, Calif."
— David Darlington, The Shocking Crash That Led Marin County to Reckon With the Dangers of E-Bikes (2025)
How to use Amelia
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMostly known today as a popular girl's name; the medical sense (missing limbs) is specialist vocabulary.
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Word forms
- Plural
- amelias
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The clinic specializes in prosthetics for children born with _____.
Etymology
A variant of Amalia, from a Germanic root meaning "vigor" or "bravery." Over time the name blended in people's minds with the unrelated Latin name Aemilia, which gave English "Emily," and the French "Aimée," which gave English "Amy."
Related words
Rhymes for Amelia
See all rhymes for Amelia →Frequently asked questions
What does “Amelia” mean?
The word “Amelia” means a rare birth condition in which a baby is born missing one or more limbs. In plain terms, mostly known today as a popular girl's name; the medical sense (missing limbs) is specialist vocabulary.
How do you pronounce “Amelia”?
“Amelia” is pronounced uh-MEE-lee-uh (/əˈmiːli.ə/ in IPA).
How do you use “Amelia” in a sentence?
Here is “Amelia” used in a sentence: “The clinic specializes in prosthetics for children born with amelia.”
What part of speech is “Amelia”?
Depending on how it is used, “Amelia” can be a noun and a name.
Where does the word “Amelia” come from?
The word “Amelia” comes from Latin.
Is “Amelia” a common word?
“Amelia” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Amelia” have?
“Amelia” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a rare birth condition in which a baby is born missing one or more limbs.
Is "Amelia" always a name, or does it have another meaning?
"Amelia" is most commonly a female given name of Germanic origin associated with strength or vigor, but in medicine it is also the term for a rare birth condition in which a baby is born missing one or more limbs. Context makes clear which sense is meant, though the medical term is far less frequently encountered.
What is amelia in a medical context?
In medicine, amelia refers to a rare congenital condition in which a limb or limbs fail to develop before birth, resulting in a baby born without one or more arms or legs. It is one of several limb reduction defects that can occur during fetal development.
What are common nicknames for the name Amelia?
Amelia is often shortened informally to Amy, Mia, or Millie, though the full form "Amelia" is also widely used on its own without a nickname.
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