A form of the name Amala, which itself is a Latinised version of the Germanic name Amala, which is derived from the word amal, meaning "work". It came into use in English after the German House of Hanover assumed the British throne in the 18th century. The name began to rise in popularity at the beginning of the 20th century, but saw a sharp increase during the 21st century. It was the number one name for girls in the U.K. from 2011 to 2015.