Given name & surname · also Old French
Amy
“dearly loved”
Amy is used as a given name and a surname. One Latin interpretation is “dearly loved.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
One Latin interpretation is “dearly loved.”
Where it comes from
This spelling has been associated with Old French and Latin naming traditions.
How it developed
In English usage, Amy is a diminutive of Amanda. In English usage, Amy is a diminutive of Amelia.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. In English use, Amy is a diminutive of Amelia. The history of Amelia gives this family its wider story. Henry Fielding used Amelia for the heroine and title of his 1751 novel, giving the name a clear eighteenth-century literary association. Amelia’s earlier development is less certain.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Amy through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 703,484
- 1,853 boys · 701,631 girls
- Most popular year
- 1975
- 32,343 babies
- 2025
- 1,200
- #257 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −11%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 1,200 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 257 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 11.3% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 32,254 in 1975. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (181). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 625,127 as a first name in 2020; 1,944 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Amy’s family of names
In English usage, Amy is a diminutive of Amanda. In English usage, Amy has a masculine form in Amyas. In English usage, Amy has a related form in Aimee.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Amy has relatives in 8 languages. Lines run from its Latin roots to each of them.
16 related names in 8 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 19
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 5
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 10
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
- Anaequivalent
- Emyequivalent
- Amiequivalent
- Anyequivalent
- Amyasmasculine form · English
- Myequivalent
- Amataequivalent
- ЭмиRussian
Show 2 moreShow fewer
See also 1
Names our sources mention alongside this one. They are related in story or meaning, not forms of this name.
People named Amy
- Amy WinehouseEnglish singer-songwriter (1983–2011)
- Amy AdamsAmerican actress (born 1974)
- Amy LeeAmerican singer, pianist and songwriterborn 1981
- Amy PoehlerAmerican actressborn 1971
- Amy MacdonaldScottish singer-songwriterborn 1987
- Amy AckerAmerican actressborn 1976
- Amy Johnsonpioneering English aviator (1903–1941)
- Amy Coney BarrettAmerican lawyer and jurist (born 1972)
- Amy TanAmerican novelistborn 1952
Characters named Amy: Amy Pond (fictional character of Doctor Who), Amy Farrah Fowler ("The Big Bang Theory"), Amy Wong (the animated series Futurama), Amy Madison (Buffy the Vampire Slayer).
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Amy, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Emily
“rival”
>99% girls
Angela
“messenger” · “a heavenly messenger; an angel”
>99% girls
Maria
“of the shining sea” · “woman of the sea”
>99% girls
Rebecca
“enchantingly beautiful, captivating, snare”
>99% girls
Lara
“lara” · “one who is protected; a cheerful woman”
>99% girls
Janelle
“God is gracious”
>99% girls
Allison
“the son of a noble” · “noble”
>99% girls
Nina
“a little girl” · “a fiery woman”
>99% girls