Amy

Meaning: Its source is an Old French expression meaning "Beloved one."

Languages: This girl's name is used in English.

Compound Forms: Amijo

Alternative Spellings: Aimie, Aimy and Amie

Variant Forms: Aimee, Ami, Amiee, Ammie, Amye and Aymi

Popularity: The name Amy ranked 112th in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of 2000-2003 Social Security Administration statistics and 32nd in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.

This name makes a strong showing in state popularity data of the 1970s, but makes few (if any) appearances on lists compiled after that period.

Narrative: Behind the Old French expression that evolved into Amy is a more ancient Latin verb, amare, meaning ''to love.''

When we consider how names originated, it is not surprising that our ancestors called their children by love words and other endearments that later developed into names. Among these are the Yoruba name Ife, the Scandinavian name Asta, and the Greek boys' name Philo.

Arts and Music

Amy Beach (born 1867, died 1944)
American composer.
- Her Gaelic Symphony (1896) is the first known symphonic work composed by an American woman (see list of Romantic Composers)

Leadership

Amy Brinkley
Businesswoman
- 33rd Most Powerful Woman, President , Bank of America (see list of 2000 Fortune 50 Most Powerful Women in American Business)

Miscellaneous

Amy Smedley
- American model (see list of Fashion Models)

Sports

Amy Alcott
American golfer.
- 1980 U.S. Women''s Open golf tournament winner (see list of U.S. Open Golf Champions)
Amy Baltzell
- Member of America-cubed sailing team that competed for the America''s Cup in 1995 (see list of Members of the America-cubed Yachting Team)
Amy Van Dyken
American athlete.
- 1996 Olympic swimming gold medal winner for 50m freestyle (see list of Olympic Gold Medalists in Freestyle Swimming)
- 1996 Olympic swimming gold medal winner for 100m butterfly (see list of Olympic Gold Medalists in Miscellaneous Swimming Events)
Amy Fuller
- Member of America-cubed sailing team that competed for the America''s Cup in 1995 (see list of Members of the America-cubed Yachting Team)

Stage and Screen

Amy Brenneman
Actress.
- Portrayed Janice Licalsi from 1993-1994 (see list of Actors on ''NYPD Blue'')
Amy Carlson
- Actress on soap opera ''''Another World'''' (see list of Performers on ''Another World'')
Amy Locane
American actress.
- Portrayed Louise Harling (see list of Actors on ''Melrose Place'')
Amy Steel
- Actress on soap opera ''''Guiding Light'''' (see list of Performers on ''Guiding Light'')
Amy Vining
Fictional character.
- Character on the soap opera ''''General Hospital'''' (see list of Characters on ''General Hospital'')
Amy Wilson
Fictional character.
- Character on the soap opera ''''The Young and the Restless'''' (see list of Characters on ''The Young and the Restless'')

The Literary World

Amy Lauder
Fictional character.
- Fran''s friend in Stephen King''s novel The Stand (see list of Characters in The Stand)
Amy Lowell (born 1874, died 1925)
American imagist poet and literary critic.
- 1926 Pulitzer Prize winner for Poetry, for What''s O''Clock (see list of Winners of the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry)
- Wrote A Dome of Many-Coloured Glass (see list of Poets of the 20th Century)
Amy Tan (born 1952)
American novelist.
- Wrote The Joy Luck Club (see list of Prose Writers of the 20th Century)