Skip Ancestry main menu Skip to Footer Ancestry Home
  • Home
  • Trees
  • Search
  • Memories
  • DNA
  • Learn
  • Subscribe
  • Cart
  • Help
  • Sign In
Home
Loading

Trees you own

    Shared with you

      Tree tools

      • My Trees
      • Start a New Tree
      • Person Preview
      • Membership
      • Family Trees Support
      Loading
      • All Collections
      • Census & Voter Lists
      • Birth, Marriage & Death
      • Military
      • Immigration & Travel
      • Directories & Member Lists
      • Public Member Trees
      • Member Search
      • Card Catalog
      Loading
      • AncestryPreserve
      • StoryScout
      • Stories of US
      Loading
      • Buy a DNA Kit
      • Register a Kit
      • AncestryDNA®
      • AncestryDNA Support
      Loading
      • Ancestry Daily
      • Ancestry Blog
      • Virtual Events
      • What's New
      • Name Meaning
      • Family History Learning Hub
      • DNA Learning Hub
      • DNA Traits Learning Hub
      • Historical Insights
      Loading
      • Support Center
      • Ancestry Academy
      • Community
      • Hire an expert
      • Site Status
      Loading
      • Support Center
      • Ancestry Academy
      • Community
      • Hire an expert
      • Site Status
      Discover More Family Names with an Ancestry 14-day Free Trial* 
      • Support Center
      • About Us
      • Ancestry Blog
      • Gift Memberships
      • Site Map
      • Swag Shop
      • Careers
      • © 1997-2026 Ancestry
      • Privacy
      • Terms and Conditions
      • Corporate Information
      • Patent
      • Accessibility
      Group of people

      Meaning of the first name Serendipity

      Origin

      American

      Meaning

      Fateful Meeting

      Variations

      Serenity, Serenitie
      The name Serendipity is of American origin and derives its roots from the word Serendip, which means a fortuitous discovery or a happy accident. The term was first coined by author Horace Walpole in 1754, in reference to the Persian fairy tale The Three Princes of Serendip. In this tale, the protagonists possess the gift of making unexpected discoveries or finding valuable things without intentionally seeking them. Walpole used the term to describe a similar experience in his letter, thus introducing the concept of serendipity into the English language.

      Throughout history, the notion of serendipity has fascinated thinkers and creatives alike. The name Serendipity serves as a lustrous embodiment of this fascination, evoking the idea of a fateful meeting or a fortunate happenstance. In modern-day usage, Serendipity continues to carry this sense of unexpected fortune. It is often employed colloquially to describe fortuitous encounters, unexpected opportunities, or delightful discoveries. Moreover, the name Serendipity has found relevance in various fields, such as science, technology, and art, where the notion of accidental discoveries and unanticipated breakthroughs holds great significance. As such, Serendipity remains a treasured name, reflecting the enduring fascination humans have with the serendipitous nature of life.

      Based on our records...

      Smith

      This is the most common surname associated with Serendipity.
      Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. - © Mapbox - © OpenStreetMap - Improve this map

      What are you curious about?

      Ready to learn more about your own family? Here are two ways to begin.
      Start a free trial
      Order AncestryDNA
      Based on our records...

      Did you know?

      1883 is when there were the most people born with the first name Serendipity.

      Explore the origins of another name.