Azelia

Meaning of Azelia

Azelia, a feminine appellation of Greek origin mediated by Italian, derives from the lexeme αζαλέα (azaléa), denoting a shrub of the genus Rhododendron, known for structural robustness and conspicuous inflorescences, thus associating the name with resilience and ornamental character. Phonetically, the name comprises four syllables with primary stress on the penultimate syllable in Italian (/a.ˈtse.li.a/) and in English (/ə.ˈzi.lɪ.jə/), demonstrating a consistent prosodic pattern across both languages. Etymologically integrated into Italian onomastics during the nineteenth century before its subsequent adoption into Anglo-American usage, Azelia has maintained a limited yet steady presence in Social Security Administration data, recording 39 occurrences and a rank of 911 in 2024. Its historical frequency, oscillating within the 800–950 rank range since the early twentieth century, underscores its status as a rare but enduring choice aligned with contemporary inclinations toward botanical derivations and classical heritage.