Meaning
The meaning of Ambrose
Ambrose comes from the Greek Ambrosios, meaning "immortal" or "belonging to the immortals." The root is ambrotos, formed from a-mbrotos ("not mortal"), the same root as ambrosia, the mythological food that grants immortality in Greek myth. In Christian usage the name carries the register of "belonging to the eternal" through the New Testament vocabulary of incorruption and immortality (1 Corinthians 15:53 to 54), rather than the pagan mythological overtone. The name was relatively rare in pre-Christian Greek naming and became more common in Christian usage specifically through Saint Ambrose of Milan.
Doctor of the Church
Why Ambrose became a Christian name
Ambrose of Milan was one of the most consequential Christian figures of the fourth century. As bishop of Milan he was the mentor whose preaching and writings shaped Augustine's theological formation, the hymnographer whose Latin hymns built the Ambrosian chant tradition, and the bishop who confronted an emperor over the massacre of civilians. The historical density of the saint anchors the name across Western Christian tradition.
The Greek etymology, "immortal," takes on specifically Christian content through the New Testament vocabulary of resurrection and incorruption rather than the pagan myth of ambrosia. The name has remained in steady patristic-tradition use across Catholic and Anglican naming, with a recent rising trend that the SSA data confirms.
Sound
How to pronounce Ambrose
- Phonetic
- AM-broze
- IPA
- /ˈæmbroʊz/
2 syllables · stress: AM-broze · ends in a consonant
Forms
Variants and nicknames
Alternate spellings
- Ambros
Short forms and nicknames
- Brose
Languages
Ambrose in other languages
- Greek
- ἈμβρόσιοςAmbrosiosThe original Greek form, formed from a-mbrotos meaning "not mortal."
- Latin
- Ambrosius
- Italian
- Ambrogio
- French
- Ambroise
- Spanish
- Ambrosio
- German
- Ambrosius
Christian background
Christian and biblical background
Ambrose is associated almost entirely with Saint Ambrose of Milan (c. 339 to 397), one of the four original Latin Doctors of the Church alongside Augustine, Jerome, and Gregory the Great. As bishop of Milan he baptized Augustine in 387, confronted Emperor Theodosius I after the Thessalonica massacre in 390 (one of the earliest documented confrontations between church and imperial authority), composed Latin hymns that shaped Western Christian liturgy (the "Ambrosian chant" tradition is named for him), and defended Christian orthodoxy against the Arian theological position. His feast day on December 7 is preserved uniformly across Catholic, Anglican, and Lutheran calendars.
Bearers
Notable people named Ambrose
historical
Saint Ambrose of MilanBishop of Milan, one of the four original Latin Doctors of the Church, c. 339 to 397historical
Ambrose BierceAmerican journalist, satirist, and author of The Devil's Dictionary, 1842 to disappeared in Mexico 1913 or 1914historical
Ambrose BurnsideAmerican Civil War Union general whose distinctive facial hair gave English the word "sideburns," 1824 to 1881
Saint
Saint Ambrose of Milan
- Traditions
- Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican, Lutheran
- Feast day
- December 7
- Patron of
- beekeepers, candle makers, learning, the city of Milan
Saint Ambrose of Milan's feast on December 7 is preserved uniformly across Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, and Orthodox calendars. The patronage of beekeepers comes from a tradition that bees swarmed around his mouth as an infant, foretelling his future eloquence in preaching and hymnography. He is the patron saint of the city of Milan, where he served as bishop from 374 until his death in 397.
Naming history
Naming tradition and history
Ambrose has appeared in the US SSA records every year since 1880 but sat outside the Top 1000 for most of the twentieth century, particularly from the 1940s through the 2010s. The name has been climbing in the broader vintage-revival naming trend, rising from #2331 in 2000 to #735 in 2025, its strongest position in roughly a century. Ambrose remains a niche but recognizable choice in Catholic, Anglican, and church-history-aware naming.
Recent US use
Ambrose in recent US use
- Rank in 2025
- #735
- Peak rank
- #233 in 1881
- Recent trend
- rising over the last 5 years
- Years in the SSA records
- 146 (since 1880)
Source: US Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880-2025.
Sibling fit
Sibling name suggestions
For families
For families looking at Ambrose
For a Christian family, Ambrose names the bishop who baptized Augustine and one of the four original Latin Doctors of the Church. Ranked #735 in US baby names in 2025, rising in the vintage-revival trend from a 2000 low of #2331.
Common questions
What does Ambrose mean?
Ambrose means "immortal" or "belonging to the immortals." The Greek root is ambrotos, meaning "not mortal."
Is Ambrose a biblical name?
No. Ambrose is a Greek-origin Christian heritage name; the immortality vocabulary it carries appears throughout the New Testament (1 Corinthians 15 and 2 Timothy 1:10).
Who was Saint Ambrose?
Saint Ambrose of Milan was a fourth-century bishop and one of the four original Latin Doctors of the Church. He baptized Augustine in 387 and composed Latin hymns that shaped Western Christian liturgy.
How popular is the name Ambrose?
Ambrose ranked #735 in US baby names in 2025, rising sharply in the vintage-revival trend from a 2000 low of #2331.
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