Amyas is a unique and distinctive given name of Cornish origin. It is derived from the Cornish word "amaras," which means "equal" or "level." This name has been historically associated with Cornwall, a county in southwest England that has its own distinct language and culture.
The use of Amyas as a given name can be traced back to the early 19th century. It was popularized by the novel "A Legend of Montrose" written by Sir Walter Scott, which featured a character named Amyas Leigh. This character was portrayed as a brave and noble Scottish knight during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms.
In the Cornish language, Amyas is also associated with St. Amyas, who is said to have been a sixth-century monk from Cornwall. According to legend, St. Amyas founded several churches in Cornwall and was known for his devotion to prayer and asceticism.
Today, Amyas remains a rare given name, but it continues to be used by families looking for unique and meaningful names for their children. Its Cornish origins and historical significance make it an appealing choice for those interested in Celtic culture or seeking a distinctive moniker with a rich history behind it.
Amyas is a unique and interesting name that has seen varying levels of popularity over the past two decades in the United States. Between the years 2002 and 2023, there were a total of 108 babies named Amyas, with the number of births varying annually.
In 2002, five babies were given the name Amyas, marking the beginning of this name's recorded history in the United States. The following year saw another five babies named Amyas, indicating that parents might have been drawn to this distinctive moniker. This trend continued into 2004 with five more births.
There was a gap of four years before the next birth occurred in 2008, with seven babies being named Amyas that year. This suggests that while the name may not have been highly popular during those years, there was still some interest and usage.
After another period of relative scarcity, six babies were named Amyas in both 2015 and 2016. Then, in 2017, five more births occurred, indicating a consistent level of popularity for the name throughout this decade.
However, it wasn't until 2019 that we saw a significant spike in popularity for the name Amyas, with twenty-one babies being given this name. This marked a notable increase from previous years and suggests that more parents were drawn to this unique moniker during this time.
The following year, there were twelve births of babies named Amyas, which was still higher than many of the preceding years but did not reach the same heights as 2019. In 2021, sixteen babies were named Amyas, indicating a continued level of popularity for the name despite fluctuations in previous years.
Most recently, seven babies were named Amyas in 2022, followed by eight births in 2023. These numbers are slightly higher than some of the earlier years but lower than the peak seen in 2019. This suggests that while there is still interest and usage of the name Amyas, it may not have reached the same level of popularity as it did four years ago.
Overall, these statistics show that while the name Amyas has had periods of relative scarcity and periods of increased popularity over the past two decades in the United States, it remains a distinctive and unique choice for parents looking to give their child a memorable moniker.