What Is the Origin of the Name Pamela?

The name "Pamela" derives from Greek. The name first appeared in the late16th century. It is a common name for a female.

Meaning

The name Pamela translates to "all honey."

Origin

The name was invented in the late16th century by poet Sir Philip Sidney. A character was given this name in his poem "Arcadia". Pamela was the heroine in was later used in 1740 as Pamela was the title heroine in Samuel Richardson's 1740 novel, "Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded."

Popularity

Pamela as a given name did not become common until the 20th century. According to the U.S. Social Security Administration, the name Pamela was most popular in 1953, ranking No. 10 in popularity among girls' names.

References

• "Behind the Name" of Pamela
• U.S. Social Security Administration