Amy Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: AY-mee //ˈeɪ.mi//
Origin: Latin; Old French
Meaning: Beloved; friend
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Amy derives from the Latin name "Amata," which means "beloved." This Latin term is rooted in the verb "amare," meaning "to love." The name transitioned into Old French as "Amee," which also carried the meaning of "beloved." The introduction of the name into English occurred during the Norman Conquest in the 11th century, when many Old French names were adopted into the English language, particularly among the aristocracy and the emerging middle class. Throughout history, the name Amy has been associated with various notable figures and literary works.
In the 13th century, the name was popularized in England, partly due to its use in medieval literature. One significant milestone was its appearance in Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Canterbury Tales" in the 14th century, where it was used in the context of courtly love.
The name also gained prominence through its association with saints, particularly Saint Amata, a 5th-century saint venerated in the Christian tradition. Culturally, the name Amy has resonated through various artistic expressions, including literature and music.
It has been used in numerous works, such as Louisa May Alcott's "Little Women" in the 19th century, where the character Amy March embodies traits of creativity and ambition. The name's enduring appeal can be attributed to its positive connotations of affection and warmth, making it a favored choice in various cultures.
Additionally, diminutive forms such as "Ami" have emerged, reflecting the name's adaptability and affectionate nature. Overall, Amy's linguistic roots, historical milestones, and cultural significance contribute to its lasting presence in the English-speaking world.
Famous people named Amy
In this section, you will find notable people named Amy. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Amy who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Amy who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Amy Adams is an actress best known for Arrival, Enchanted, and American Hustle.
Amy Poehler is an actress and comedian best known for Parks and Recreation, Saturday Night Live, and Inside Out.
Amy Winehouse was a singer and songwriter best known for Back to Black, Rehab, and You Know I'm No Good.
Amy Schumer is a comedian and actress best known for Trainwreck, Inside Amy Schumer, and The Girl with the Lower Back Tattoo.
Amy Tan is an author best known for The Joy Luck Club, The Kitchen God's Wife, and The Bonesetter's Daughter.
Amy Brenneman is an actress and producer best known for Judging Amy, NYPD Blue, and Heat.
Amy Smart is an actress best known for Varsity Blues, Butterfly Effect, and Crank.
Amy Jo Johnson is an actress and singer best known for Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Felicity, and The Division.
Amy Landecker is an actress best known for Transparent, A Serious Man, and Dan in Real Life.
Amy Sedaris is an actress and comedian best known for Strangers with Candy, At Home with Amy Sedaris, and Elf.
Fictional characters named Amy
The following list of fictional characters named Amy is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Amy Pond is a fictional character from the TV series Doctor Who. She is a companion of the Doctor who travels through time and space, playing a crucial role in several story arcs.
Amy Dunne is a fictional character from the novel and film Gone Girl. She is a complex and manipulative woman whose disappearance becomes the center of a media frenzy and a police investigation.
Amy March is a fictional character from the novel Little Women. She is the youngest of the March sisters, known for her artistic aspirations and personal growth throughout the story.
Amy Wong is a fictional character from the animated television series Futurama. She is a graduate student and a member of the Planet Express crew, often providing comic relief with her quirky personality.
Amy Rose is a fictional character from the Sonic the Hedgehog video game series. She is a determined and optimistic hedgehog who has a strong affection for Sonic and often seeks to prove her worth.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Amy, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Amy. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Amy was first seen in the United States in 1880.
Amy has ranked as high as #9 nationally, which occurred in 1975, and has been most popular in California, New York, Ohio, Texas, and Pennsylvania.
In the past 5 years the name Amy has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Amy is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Amy was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Amy (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| TX | 216 | |
| CA | 172 | |
| FL | 159 | |
| NY | 91 | |
| MD | 52 | |
| NJ | 45 | |
| GA | 43 | |
| NC | 41 | |
| VA | 39 | |
| IL | 37 | |
| MA | 36 | |
| OH | 32 | |
| WA | 32 | |
| PA | 29 | |
| UT | 22 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Amy.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 1,344 |
| 2023 | 1,489 |
| 2022 | 1,414 |
| 2021 | 1,564 |
| 2020 | 1,339 |
| 2019 | 1,480 |
| 2018 | 1,511 |
| 2017 | 1,739 |
| 2016 | 1,845 |
| 2015 | 2,043 |
| 2014 | 2,193 |
| 2013 | 2,239 |
| 2012 | 2,238 |
| 2011 | 2,191 |
| 2010 | 2,283 |
| 2009 | 2,484 |
| 2008 | 2,541 |
| 2007 | 2,829 |
| 2006 | 2,745 |
| 2005 | 2,957 |
| 2004 | 3,115 |
| 2003 | 2,880 |
| 2002 | 3,095 |
| 2001 | 2,938 |
| 2000 | 3,173 |
| 1999 | 3,207 |
| 1998 | 3,485 |
| 1997 | 3,691 |
| 1996 | 4,067 |
| 1995 | 4,529 |
| 1994 | 4,691 |
| 1993 | 5,420 |
| 1992 | 6,340 |
| 1991 | 7,275 |
| 1990 | 8,464 |
| 1989 | 8,898 |
| 1988 | 10,034 |
| 1987 | 11,787 |
| 1986 | 13,451 |
| 1985 | 14,429 |
| 1984 | 15,990 |
| 1983 | 17,096 |
| 1982 | 18,800 |
| 1981 | 20,344 |
| 1980 | 19,833 |
| 1979 | 21,609 |
| 1978 | 23,214 |
| 1977 | 26,730 |
| 1976 | 31,339 |
| 1975 | 32,253 |
| 1974 | 29,564 |
| 1973 | 26,964 |
| 1972 | 25,872 |
| 1971 | 26,237 |
| 1970 | 25,213 |
| 1969 | 21,462 |
| 1968 | 17,092 |
| 1967 | 16,123 |
| 1966 | 12,998 |
| 1965 | 11,530 |
| 1964 | 9,575 |
| 1963 | 8,228 |
| 1962 | 7,185 |
| 1961 | 6,610 |
| 1960 | 5,973 |
| 1959 | 5,580 |
| 1958 | 4,822 |
| 1957 | 4,081 |
| 1956 | 3,547 |
| 1955 | 3,192 |
| 1954 | 2,676 |
| 1953 | 2,306 |
| 1952 | 1,750 |
| 1951 | 1,445 |
| 1950 | 1,184 |
| 1949 | 984 |
| 1948 | 611 |
| 1947 | 577 |
| 1946 | 520 |
| 1945 | 439 |
| 1944 | 447 |
| 1943 | 463 |
| 1942 | 473 |
| 1941 | 424 |
| 1940 | 390 |
| 1939 | 364 |
| 1938 | 354 |
| 1937 | 326 |
| 1936 | 334 |
| 1935 | 325 |
| 1934 | 322 |
| 1933 | 303 |
| 1932 | 341 |
| 1931 | 347 |
| 1930 | 386 |
| 1929 | 343 |
| 1928 | 366 |
| 1927 | 446 |
| 1926 | 494 |
| 1925 | 560 |
| 1924 | 604 |
| 1923 | 596 |
| 1922 | 612 |
| 1921 | 619 |
| 1920 | 624 |
| 1919 | 609 |
| 1918 | 573 |
| 1917 | 610 |
| 1916 | 595 |
| 1915 | 624 |
| 1914 | 472 |
| 1913 | 387 |
| 1912 | 371 |
| 1911 | 296 |
| 1910 | 287 |
| 1909 | 244 |
| 1908 | 245 |
| 1907 | 247 |
| 1906 | 240 |
| 1905 | 269 |
| 1904 | 255 |
| 1903 | 242 |
| 1902 | 255 |
| 1901 | 244 |
| 1900 | 335 |
| 1899 | 281 |
| 1898 | 341 |
| 1897 | 315 |
| 1896 | 320 |
| 1895 | 303 |
| 1894 | 329 |
| 1893 | 281 |
| 1892 | 331 |
| 1891 | 266 |
| 1890 | 275 |
| 1889 | 252 |
| 1888 | 236 |
| 1887 | 251 |
| 1886 | 226 |
| 1885 | 240 |
| 1884 | 205 |
| 1883 | 209 |
| 1882 | 196 |
| 1881 | 145 |
| 1880 | 167 |