The name Amelie is a French feminine given name derived from the ancient Germanic name Amala, which means "work" or "labor". It's believed to have originated from the Germanic root word "amal", meaning "diligent" or "hardworking".

The earliest known recorded use of the name Amelie dates back to the 9th century in France, where it was spelled as Amalie. During the Middle Ages, the name became popular among the French nobility and aristocracy.

Amelie was a relatively common name in medieval Europe, particularly in France and Germany. It appears in several historical records and documents from that era, including church records and genealogical texts.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the name Amelie was Saint Amelie, a French nun who lived in the 9th century and was known for her piety and charitable works. Another prominent bearer of the name was Amelie of Marseille, a 13th-century noblewoman who served as the Countess of Toulouse.

In the 16th century, the name Amelie gained popularity among the French royal family. Amelie of Orleans, born in 1695, was a French princess and the daughter of Philippe II, Duke of Orleans. She was known for her intelligence and interest in the arts and sciences.

During the 18th century, Amelie de Boufflers, born in 1751, was a French aristocrat and writer who was known for her wit and literary salons. She was a prominent figure in the French Enlightenment and was associated with philosophers like Voltaire and Rousseau.

Another notable Amelie was Amelie Müller, a German-born American artist and writer who lived from 1885 to 1965. She was known for her landscape paintings and her memoir, "The World of An Artist", which chronicled her life and experiences as a female artist in the early 20th century.

In more recent times, the name Amelie gained renewed popularity after the release of the 2001 French film "Amélie", which starred Audrey Tautou as the titular character. The film's success helped to reintroduce the name to a new generation and contributed to its resurgence in many countries.