The given name Amy has its origins in the Old French name Amee, which itself derived from the Late Latin name Amata, meaning "beloved." The name can be traced back to ancient Roman times and the Latin verb amare, meaning "to love."

In medieval France, the name Amee was relatively common among the upper classes and nobility. It was sometimes spelled Aimée or Aymée. Similar names in other European languages, such as the Italian Amata and Spanish Amada, share the same Latin root.

One of the earliest known references to the name Amy comes from the 12th-century French epic poem, The Song of Roland. In this work, Ami and Amile are the names of two legendary heroes and close friends.

In the 13th century, Amy du Moulin, a French peasant woman, became famous after claiming to have received visions of the Virgin Mary. She is sometimes referred to as Blessed Amy or Amy of Ghent.

During the Renaissance period, Amy Robsart (1532-1560) was an English noblewoman who was the first wife of Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. Her mysterious death at a young age led to speculation and rumors of foul play.

In the 17th century, Amy Dudley (1667-1698), the daughter of a British Earl, was a celebrated beauty and socialite who was painted by the famous artist Sir Peter Lely.

Jumping ahead a few centuries, Amy Lowell (1874-1925) was an American poet and Pulitzer Prize winner who was a prominent figure in the Imagist movement of the early 20th century.

Amy Johnson (1903-1941) was a pioneering English aviator who was the first woman to fly solo from Britain to Australia in 1930. She tragically died during World War II while serving in the Air Transport Auxiliary.