Amy is a popular female given name of English origin. It means "beloved" or "dear friend." The name has been in use for centuries and was originally used as both a given name and a nickname. In the Middle Ages, it was used as a diminutive of names such as Amabel, Amabilis, and other names beginning with "Ama-". It could also be used as a shortened form of names such as Amelia or Amanda.
The name Amy has been popular throughout history, but its popularity has fluctuated over time. In the United States, for example, it was quite popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, then declined in usage until it regained popularity in the 1960s and 1970s.
Some famous people named Amy include:
* American actress Amy Adams
* British singer-songwriter Amy Winehouse
* Canadian-American actress Amy Sedaris
* American astronaut Dr. Bonnie "Amy" Dunbar
Overall, Amy is a classic name with a sweet meaning that has stood the test of time. Its popularity has waxed and waned over the centuries, but it remains a beloved choice for parents looking for a timeless name for their daughter.
The name Amy has experienced significant fluctuations in popularity over the century. Starting with only five births per year between 1911 and 1928, it began to gain traction in the late 1950s, reaching double digits annually from 1958 onwards. The name peaked dramatically in the late 1960s and early 1970s, with a staggering 94 births in 1976 alone. However, popularity began to decline sharply from the mid-1970s, falling below ten births per year by the late 1980s. Since then, Amy has maintained steady but low levels of popularity, with fewer than ten births per year for the past two decades. In total, over the span of a century, the name Amy has been given to 1846 newborn girls.