Amaryllis Origin and Meaning

Signification et symbolisme d'Amaryllis

Legend has it that the amaryllis - the stunning red flower we've come to associate with the holidays - began as a shy, timid nymph. Amaryllis fell deeply in love with Alteo, a shepherd with Hercules' strength and Apollo's beauty, but her affections were unrequited. Hoping that she could win him over by bestowing upon him the thing he desired most - a flower so unique it had never existed in the world before - Amaryllis sought advice from the oracle of Delphi.

Following his instructions, Amaryllis dressed in maiden's white and appeared at Alteo's door for 30 nights, each time piercing her heart with a golden arrow. When at last Alteo opened his door, there before him was a striking crimson flower, sprung from the blood of Amaryllis's heart. With this romantic - albeit tragic - tale as its beginning, it's not surprising that today the amaryllis has come to symbolize pride, determination and radiant beauty.

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Personal experiences with the name Amaryllis:

My father named me Amaryllis and up until now all I knew was that it was a Belladonna Lily that grows in the tropical regions of the world as well as a beautiful house plant. Although, I have been constantly told how pretty my name is and that hardly anyone has ever heard it used, so I believe it's a name rarely used by anyone. Also, you can get several nicknames out of this full name. I have yet to come across anyone with Amaryllis as a surname, but it is a big world and who knows when I'll come across that someone with Amaryllis as their last name.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Amaryllis 22 Canada Someplace~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I have also been given the name Amaryllis, I was always told it was Greek and means 'I sparkle' or 'sparkling' My father had also named me this, he had named me after "Amaryllis at the Fair"(1887)A novel by Richard Jefferies.

At first I found this name hard to live with I felt that some people would have problems saying my name but in the end I would NEVER change it because I don't have to look over every time i hear my name and wonder if it is I whom they call. It always will be with such a beautiful name!If only people would stop using it for show names!Its a name that is elegant but demands respect.

I have been called Maryll (Said like Karol/feral or that Pokemon Marill)I have yet to meet another Amaryllis But so far I have noticed that not many use Maryll as a nick name. I am not sure I would want to meet another amaryllis. I think that would be rather confusing as I have never gone by Amy or anything common. I am not sure how people do it.

Nicknames for Amaryllis:

Amy, Amsie, Lissi, Mali, Mari, Lily, Maryll, Marill, Rilla, Ryl, Marilla, Lys

Meanings and history of the name Amaryllis:

Taken from a shepherdess in Virgil's pastoral "Eclogues" (also known as the "Bucolics"). (The amaryllis flower is named for her.) Derived from the Greek αμαρυσσω (Latin amarysso) meaning "to sparkle".

Famous real-life people named Amaryllis:

Amaryllis Fleming (daughter of Augustus John, and half sister of Ian Fleming) - England's leading solo cellist in the 1950s and 1960s.

Amaryllis August, daughter of Danish film director Bille August.

Amaryllis Garnett (1943-1973), actress and granddaughter of Bloomsbury artists Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant.

Amaryllis in song, story & screen:

Amaryllis is a young piano student in the movie Music Man.

Amaryllis is the title of an album and a song by the band Shinedown.

Amaryllis is the little girl/main character in the book The Magic Garden by Gene Stratton Porter.