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

Popularity: The name Ami ranked 1517th in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.

Though this name has fluctuated in use, it has been quietly present throughout the last century.

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.