Charlotte Amalie (pronounced Amalia: ah-MAH-lee-ah) 

Located on the island of St. Thomas, Charlotte Amalie (ah-MAH-lee-ah) is capital and largest city in the U.S. Virgin Islands. 

Originally known as “Taphus” meaning “beer hall,” in 1691 the harbor town was given a considerably more elegant name, Charlotte Amalie, in honor of Charlotte Amalie of Hesse-Kassel (1650–1714), queen consort to King Christian V of Denmark.

Occasionally, island parents make the decision to name a child after the celebrated tropical city. When their daughter was born at Schneider Hospital on Sept. 21, 2007, Kizza Matthews and Hilary Joan Marquardt chose to name her Amalia Grace.

Now 12 years of age, Amalia happily shares, “I’ve always loved my name.” 

Although she moved to Sarasota, Florida with her parents several years ago, Amalia returns to St. Thomas to visit her grandmother, Donna Pagano, with regularity. 

A well known Virgin Islands publisher and author, Pagano has been an island resident since 1986. She founded The Island Trader and was at the helm of the popular weekly publication for 15 years. She also penned the novel “Merging Lives.”

Said Pagano, “We are proud to have had three generations on the island for so many years. It will always be ‘Home’ in our hearts.”