Drusilla

Meaning of Drusilla

Drusilla, a feminine appellation of ancient Roman provenance, represents the diminutive form of the nomen Drusus, a distinguished hereditary surname of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, and is etymologically linked to a Greek term conveying strength and fruitfulness. The name is historically attested in early Christian literature through the figure of the Herodian princess Drusilla—wife of the procurator Felix—thereby securing its presence within New Testament accounts and subsequent ecclesiastical chronicles. Analysis of United States naming data reveals that Drusilla achieved modest popularity during the early twentieth century before undergoing a steady decline to its present status as a distinctive rarity, with only seven births (ranked 943rd) recorded in 2024. Pronounced in English as /druˈsɪlə/ and in Italian as /druˈziːla/, Drusilla retains a formal, classical resonance that affords modern parents the opportunity to bestow an erudite and singularly uncommon choice upon their daughter.