The camilli were children, boys and girls, who assisted the priests in the sacrifices to pagan gods, in the Ancient Rome. This first name , mixed, comes from this appellation. Camille is now much more common for girls. It was a star name of the 1990s. Celebrates July 14.
Origin and etymology of the first name Camille
From the Latin Camillus in the masculine and Camilla in the feminine, desiganient in everyday language designated a noble child who assisted the priests during the sacrifices in ancient Rome.
Saint Camille, the Virgin of Auxerre in the legend, was Italian. With her three sisters, she wanted to accompany the remains of Germain d'Auxerre, who died in Ravenna. She died during the trip, in 448. This Camille was not canonized but is locally celebrated on the same day as her sister Magnentius, November 26.
Use and popularity of the first name Camille
The Camilles can be found well before the 19th century, no doubt under the influence of the play by Corneille (Horace ), where the unfortunate Camille is killed by her own brother for remaining loyal to the Curiace he had shot down. More often male until the 1950s, Camille then became predominantly female. Thus Camille Claudel, trained in sculpture in Rodin's studio, who revealed an original talent that mental disorders prevented her from fully realizing (La Valse, 1893).
In the late 1990s, Camille was one of the top three names given to a girl. The Camilla variant appeared in the 20th century (Camilla Parker Bowles, wife of the Prince of Wales). The diminutive Milla, which appeared more recently, has since been in constant progression (actress Milla Jovovich).
To go further
- 2000 first names and their history, by Omer Englebert. Albin Michel, 2015.
- The Book of my first name - Camille. First, 2017.