The term "electricity" comes from the Greek word
ēlektron, which means "amber." This is because ancient Greeks discovered that when amber was rubbed with fur, it would attract light objects like feathers, a phenomenon we now recognize as static electricity.
The modern concept of electricity, as we understand it today, was developed over time, with many scientists contributing to its study. However, the name "electricity" itself was coined by the English scientist
William Gilbert in the late 16th century. Gilbert is often considered the father of electrical studies. He used the term to describe the phenomenon of attraction and repulsion that occurs when certain materials, like amber, are rubbed.
So, while
Gilbert helped popularize the term, the phenomenon itself was known much earlier in history.