The name Felice is of Italian origin and means "happy" or "lucky". It is derived from the Latin word 'felix', which also translates to mean happy or fortunate.
The use of the name Felice dates back to ancient Rome, where it was often used as a title or an epithet for gods and emperors. In Roman culture, being felix was seen as a sign of divine favor and happiness was considered one of the greatest virtues.
Over time, Felice became more commonly used as a given name in Italy and other parts of Europe. It has since become popular in several different cultures around the world, including France, Spain, Portugal, and even in some English-speaking countries.
In literature, Felice is often associated with the works of Italian writers such as Dante Alighieri and Giovanni Boccaccio. In fact, Boccaccio's collection of short stories called "The Decameron" features a character named Felice dei Lippi.
Today, Felice remains a beloved name, particularly in Italy where it is still quite common. It is often given to both boys and girls, although it tends to be more popular for females. Despite its popularity, Felice is not always an easy name to pronounce or spell for those unfamiliar with Italian, which can sometimes lead to confusion or mistakes.
In conclusion, the name Felice has a rich history dating back to ancient Rome and means "happy" or "lucky". It has been used as both a title and a given name throughout its existence and remains popular today, particularly in Italy. Despite some challenges with pronunciation and spelling, Felice is a unique and meaningful name that carries with it a sense of positivity and good fortune.
The given statistics represent the annual number of births with the name Felice in the United States between 1910 and 2001. Over this period of 92 years, a total of 700 babies were named Felice.
During the early decades of the 20th century, the popularity of the name Felice fluctuated, with peaks occurring between 1912 and 1924. The highest number of births in any single year during this period was 24 in 1921.
After the 1930s, the name Felice became less common, with fewer than 15 births per year recorded from 1932 onwards. This trend continued until the late 1960s and early 1970s, when there was a brief resurgence in popularity, with peaks of 14 births in 1974 and 11 births in both 1975 and 1976.
However, overall, the name Felice remained relatively uncommon throughout the century. The lowest number of births recorded for any single year was 5, which occurred on multiple occasions between 1932 and 1990.
In recent years, the use of the name Felice has been even less frequent, with only 7 births recorded in 2001. Despite this, it is still possible to find people named Felice living in the United States today. These statistics provide an interesting snapshot of the changing popularity of this particular name over time.