Amy

♀ Girl

Pronounced AY-mee /ˈeɪ.mi/High

Meaning: Beloved; from Old French Amée, past participle of aimer (to love), from Latin amareHigh

In 30 seconds: A warm, enduring classic meaning 'beloved,' from the Old French Amée. It charmed the English-speaking world in the Victorian era and remained a top-10 name for much of the 20th century.

💕 Browse more names

Origin HighOld French, Latin

MeaningBeloved; from Old French Amée, past participle of aimer (to love), from Latin amare

Peak year1975

Total births (all-time)≈ 690,250

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Amy derives from the Old French feminine name Amée, the past participle of aimer ('to love'), itself from Latin amare. The name was introduced to England by the Normans and appeared in medieval records. It gained literary fame through characters such as Amy Robsart in Walter Scott's novel Kenilworth (1821) and Amy March in Little Women (1868).

Amy was a top-10 U.S. girls' name from the 1970s through the mid-1980s and has remained in the top 100 ever since. It projects a friendly, approachable warmth that has proven enduringly popular. In the 21st century it continues to rank highly both in the U.S. and across the English-speaking world.

Did you know? Amy March, the youngest March sister in Louisa May Alcott's Little Women (1868), is one of literature's most memorable Amys and helped cement the name's image as sweetly ambitious.

Variations

AmieAimeeAmée

Nicknames

Aims

Famous Bearers

★Amy Winehouse (1983–2011)
British singer-songwriter known for her soulful voice and albums <em>Frank</em> and <em>Back to Black</em>.
★Amy Adams (b. 1974)
American actress, six-time Academy Award nominee.

If you like Amy…

Emma— short, classic, sweet feminine name at the top of charts

Anna— timeless two-syllable classic with the same gentle feel

Claire— clean, classic one-two syllable French-origin name

Sara— similarly short, classic, universally understood

Frequently Asked

What does the name Amy mean?

Amy means 'beloved,' from Old French Amée, derived from the Latin verb amare, to love.

How do you pronounce Amy?

Amy is pronounced AY-mee (/ˈeɪ.mi/) — two syllables with stress on the first.

Is Amy a boy or girl name?

Amy is used almost exclusively as a girl's name.

How popular is Amy?

Amy was a top-10 U.S. girls' name in the 1970s and 80s and has remained in the top 100 ever since.