Amy

Jennifer topped the charts throughout the 1970s. Amy peaked just below Jennifer at second place. This means that most people with the name are now middle-aged women.

Amy's long history of use prevents it from feeling dated, though. It dates from the Norman Conquest, when the Old French Amée was brought to England to be anglicized as Amy. Sources suggest that Amy wasn't common until the nineteenth century. However, according to Eleanor "Elea" Nickerson on British Baby Names, it appeared in the English top 50 as early as the sixteenth century. It remained popular until the early twentieth century.

Amy came back in England around the same time it became popular in the United States. Amy was popular from the late 1950s through the 1990s. While other 1970s names like Jennifer and Michelle have plummeted to the 300s and 400s, Amy's decline has been slow. Even twenty years after it left the top 100, Amy still ranks below the top 200. 

Since it was so popular in the 1970s, some people will find Amy dated. However, with centuries of use and consistently in the top 400, Amy is a true classic. It can be a nickname for longer names like Amelia, but it's still perfectly usable on its own, too. Its meaning of "beloved" and connection to the youngest sister from Louisa May Alcott's Little Women are bonuses.


SPELLINGS:

Aimee, Amie


STYLES:

Compact, Retro, Timeless


SISTERS:

Anna, Bridget, Erin, Grace, Katie, Laura, Molly, Penny, Rachel, Sue

BROTHERS:

Alex, David, Eric, Heath, Jay, Lance, Michael, Peter, Scott, Toby 


ALTERNATIVES:

April, Cassie, Heidi, Jane, Julie, Macy, Nina, Rae, Romy, Sunny


FURTHER RESOURCES:

"Amy." Names, Behind the Name, 28 Jul. 2009, https://www.behindthename.com/name/amy. 

Nickerson, Eleanor. Name Data, British Baby Names, https://www.britishbabynames.com/blog/links-to-name-data.html. Accessed 17 Sept. 2024.

Redmond, Pamela. "Amy." Baby Girl Names, Nameberry, 16 Sept. 2024, https://nameberry.com/b/girl-baby-name-amy. 


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