Etymology & Historical Origin of the Baby Name Felix

The name Felix comes from the Latin word for "happy". The name not only denotes happiness, but also fortune, good luck and success. It was largely used as a Latin cognomen during antiquity as a result of this favorable omen, and has been borne by scores of Christian saints, three popes and two antipopes. The byname Felix was most famously given to Lucius Cornelius Sulla Felix (commonly known as just “Sulla”), a first century BC Roman general and dictator of the Republic. Sulla was a highly skillful general (never lost a battle) and was said to have the cunning of a fox and the courage of a lion, so by adding Felix to his long list of names was not exactly a stretch. The name became very popular among early Christians and maintained wide usage throughout Europe since the Middle Ages. Felice, Felicia and Felicity are all feminine versions of this auspicious name. Felix is currently ranked highest in Germany and Austria, but it is also a favorite among Scandinavians (Denmark, Norway, Sweden).

All About the Baby Name – Felix

Personality

OF THE BOY NAME FELIX

The number 11 is a Master Number, and embodies heightened traits of the Two. This personality is on a life journey to find spiritual truth. They are extremely idealistic and intuitive. Elevens have a rare and exceptional spiritual energy that brings a sense of obligation to illuminate the world around them. It's a very powerful responsibility, but these people have far more potential than they know. It's important that they surrender to higher ideals. They have the capacity to see the bigger picture, and they possess the skills to inspire others spiritually. Elevens have strong diplomatic skills and can become great peacemakers. Master numbers can be both a blessing and a curse, as they walk the fine line between greatness and the potential for self-destruction.

Popularity

OF THE BOY NAME FELIX

Felix enjoyed moderately high success at the turn of the 20th century, but in the past 100 years it has slightly declined in usage. Nonetheless, Felix is still a consistently used name, but only in moderation which makes it an original choice today. Most American parents have probably forgotten about this "happy" name, but when reminded, it’s hard not to embrace it. It’s cute, it’s offbeat and it’s a little funky. Felix the Cat was a hugely popular cartoon cat in the silent era of film and still one of the most recognized cartoon characters in history (as a result, many people think of Felix as a name for one’s pet cat). And now that we’re almost 40 years beyond the old TV series “The Odd Couple”, the name is no longer associated with the persnickety character of Felix Unger. Instead, Felix is getting back to its original Latin roots – and who doesn’t want happiness and good fortune bestowed upon their children? Felix is a strong-sounding, energetic and friendly name. It’s just one of those names that puts a smile on your face.

Quick Facts

ON FELIX

GENDER:

Boy

ORIGIN:

Latin

NUMBER OF SYLLABLES:

2

RANKING POPULARITY:

296

PRONUNCIATION:

FEE-liks

SIMPLE MEANING:

Happy, fortunate

Characteristics

OF FELIX

Inspirational

Highly Intuitive

Spiritual Teacher

Extremely Bright

Uplifting

Truth-seeker

Cultural References to the Baby Name – Felix

Literary Characters

OF THE BABY NAME FELIX

Felix is a character in Mary Shelley’s classic novel, “Frankenstein”, or, The Modern Prometheus, which was first published anonymously in 1818. Felix is the son of a good family which has fallen upon hard times, and now lives in a cottage near Victor Frankenstein’s estate. The monster stumbles upon Felix and his family and learns language and history by eavesdropping on their lessons for and conversations with their Turkish guest, Safie (with whom Felix is in love). As understanding and communication open new vistas to Frankenstein’s monster, so, too, does his observation of the relationship between Felix and Safie give him hope for the possibility of some measure of affection between him and his maker. Felix, however, dashes those hopes when the monster reveals himself, driving him away from their home and hearth, and illuminating the alienation that is part of the monster’s very creation. We can only say in Felix’s defense that he is but a representative of a society which, even when it is striving to be good and kind, cannot bear the concept of “otherness”.

Childrens Books

ON THE BABY NAME FELIX

We cannot find any childrens books with the first name Felix


Popular Songs

ON FELIX

Felix
a song by No Use For A Name

Famous People

NAMED FELIX

Felix Mendelssohn (German composer)
Felix Bloch (Nobel Prize winner, physics)
Felix Frankfurter (U.S. Supreme Court Justice)
Felix Adler (International Clown Hall of Fame member)
Felix Chouinard (baseball player)
Felix Hernandez (baseball player)
Felix Jose (baseball player)
Felix Mackiewicz (baseball player)
Felix Moses (baseball player)
Felix Potvin (hockey player)
Felix Rodriguez (baseball player)

Children of Famous People

NAMED FELIX

Elizabeth Banks;

Historic Figures

WITH THE NAME FELIX

We cannot find any historically significant people with the first name Felix