Aimee

Aimee made her debut on the American popularity charts long ago in the late 19th century. She showed up sporadically but eventually disappeared from the charts in the first part of the 20th century. The name reappeared on the female charts in 1953 and soared to relatively high levels of usage pretty quickly. Aimee was obviously riding the success of the more traditionally English Amy and reached her high point of popularity during the 1970s and early 80s. The spelling of Aimee holds more French flair for some American parents who prefer it over the plainer three lettered Amy. Whether you prefer Amy or Aimee, both names are not only sweet and elegant in their simplicity, but they are also “beloved” by many. Some think Aimee is more pretentious, thanks to the French origins, but you have to admit, it’s simply darling and hard to criticize. It’s definitely more fanciful than Amy, but it’s also so widely embraced among English speakers that it’s almost as familiar. We also adore the nickname they use in Ireland: Mimi. In the United States, Amy is still holding strong, but Aimee has dropped off the American radar in the past twenty years. This spelling is now used quite infrequently giving it a slight edge of originality.