America

The name America (América) is the feminine form of the Italian name Amerigo, which has its origin in the name Emmerich. In translation, the name describes 'the capable ruler,' 'the great powerful one,' or 'the one who leads the home.'

What does the name America mean?

America (América) is the feminine counterpart of the Italian name Amerigo, which is derived from Emmerich. The meaning of the name encompasses terms like 'the capable ruler,' 'the great powerful one,' and 'the one who governs the home.' The two-part name has its roots in the Gothic amals, meaning 'brave' or 'capable,' as well as in the Old High German terms erman for 'great' or 'all-encompassing' and heima, which means 'the home,' 'the homeland,' or 'the dwelling.' These elements are combined with the Old High German word rihhi, which means 'powerful,' 'rich,' or 'ruler.' America is used in English as a designation for America. The name has established itself as a first name since the 19th century. The male variant is particularly well-known through Amerigo Vespucci, the Italian navigator and explorer after whom America was named. While Columbus discovered America, it was Amerigo Vespucci who first recognized that it was a new continent and not India.

Where does the name America come from?

The name America has its roots in Old High German and means 'the one who governs the home.'

How do you pronounce America?

The pronunciation of America is four syllables and expansive. In German pronunciation, the name is usually rendered as 'A-me-ri-ka' [aˈmɛʁika]. The open vowels create a clear, even sound movement. The '-ka' at the end provides a clean conclusion, while the overall sound progression conveys a sense of breadth and openness. Overall, the name America appears generous and flowing, with a clear and calm structure.

Popularity

The first name America is rather rare in Germany. It has not found a place in the German first name charts so far. Its best ranking in the USA was in 2002, when it reached 411th place. In the last ten years, America has been given about 1,600 times there, leading to a rank of 1,055 in the ten-year statistics. From 1930 to 2024, the name ranks 1,190 in the USA.

Nicknames & pet names

Ameri / Ames / Amy / Amé / Erica / Mer / Meri / Merica / Merry / Rica / Ricci

Famous people

• America Athene Olivo (American actress)
• America Ferrera (actress)
• America Martin (American artist)
• America Olivo (American actress)
• America Singer (singer/fictional character)
• America Vera Zavala (Swedish writer)
• America Young (American actress)