Amélie is a charming and unique feminine given name of French origin. It is composed of the French elements "ama" meaning "to love" or "dear", and "Ella" which is derived from the German element "Adalheidis" meaning "noble". Thus, Amélie translates to "loving and noble".
The name Amélie was popularized by the French writer Guy de Maupassant in his short story "Boule de Suif" published in 1880. However, its use as a given name can be traced back to at least the 16th century when it was recorded among Huguenot families in France.
In literature and arts, Amélie has been used notably by French author Honoré de Balzac in his novel "Père Goriot" (1835), although he spelled it as Amelie. Also, the Academy Award-winning film "Amélie" (2001) by Jean-Pierre Jeunet popularized this name worldwide.
While Amélie remains more commonly used in French-speaking countries, its unique and elegant sound has made it appealing to parents around the globe. It has also been ranked among the top 500 names for girls in various English-speaking countries such as England, Wales, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.
The name Amillie peaked in popularity recently with 8 births each in 2021 and 2022, but has since declined to 6 births in 2023.