Apollonia Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: ah-poh-LOH-nee-ah /əˌpɒləˈniːə/
Origin: Greek; Latin
Meaning: Greek: of Apollo; Latin: belonging to Apollo
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Apollonia is derived from the Greek name Ἀπολλωνία (Apollonia), which is rooted in the name of the Greek god Apollo, associated with light, music, and prophecy. The etymological journey begins with the Greek word Ἀπόλλων (Apollon), which is thought to mean 'destroyer' or 'to destroy,' reflecting the dual nature of Apollo as both a bringer of light and a figure of destruction.
The name was adopted into Latin as Apollonia, which then made its way into various languages, including English, primarily through ecclesiastical and scholarly contexts during the Middle Ages. Historically, the name Apollonia has been significant in various cultures.
It was borne by several early Christian saints, most notably Saint Apollonia, a martyr who is venerated in the Christian tradition, particularly in the 3rd century. Her feast day is celebrated on February 9, and she is often invoked for protection against dental diseases, reflecting the historical association of her name with healing.
The name also appears in ancient geographical contexts, such as the city of Apollonia in Cyrenaica, founded in the 7th century BCE, which further illustrates the cultural importance of the name in antiquity. Culturally, Apollonia has resonated through literature and art, often symbolizing beauty, harmony, and the arts, echoing the attributes of its divine namesake.
The name has been used in various forms across different cultures, and its variants, such as Apollonio or Apollon, have appeared in historical texts and artistic works. The enduring legacy of Apollonia is reflected in its continued use in religious and cultural contexts, maintaining a connection to its rich historical roots.
Famous people named Apollonia
In this section, you will find notable people named Apollonia. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Apollonia who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Apollonia who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Apollonia Kotero is an actress and singer best known for Purple Rain, The Family Business, and her music career.
Fictional characters named Apollonia
The following list of fictional characters named Apollonia is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Apollonia is a fictional character from the film The Godfather. She is the daughter of Vito Corleone and becomes a central figure in the family's tragic story.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Apollonia, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Apollonia. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Apollonia was first seen in the United States in 1895.
Apollonia has ranked as high as #1077 nationally, which occurred in 1985, and has been most popular in California, Texas, Florida, Georgia, and Michigan.
In the past 5 years the name Apollonia has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Apollonia is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Apollonia was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Apollonia (2022)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 5 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Apollonia.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 19 |
| 2023 | 24 |
| 2022 | 24 |
| 2021 | 21 |
| 2020 | 20 |
| 2019 | 18 |
| 2018 | 18 |
| 2017 | 20 |
| 2016 | 17 |
| 2015 | 25 |
| 2014 | 14 |
| 2013 | 21 |
| 2012 | 18 |
| 2011 | 21 |
| 2010 | 12 |
| 2009 | 11 |
| 2008 | 11 |
| 2007 | 9 |
| 2006 | 14 |
| 2005 | 9 |
| 2004 | 8 |
| 2002 | 7 |
| 2001 | 6 |
| 2000 | 8 |
| 1999 | 6 |
| 1998 | 5 |
| 1995 | 8 |
| 1994 | 6 |
| 1993 | 5 |
| 1992 | 17 |
| 1991 | 17 |
| 1990 | 19 |
| 1989 | 14 |
| 1988 | 15 |
| 1987 | 29 |
| 1986 | 53 |
| 1985 | 67 |
| 1984 | 28 |
| 1918 | 7 |
| 1916 | 6 |
| 1915 | 7 |
| 1895 | 6 |