Amédée is a French given name of Latin origin. It comes from the Roman family name Aemilius, which was derived from the Latin word "aemulus," meaning "rival" or "equal." The name Amédée was popular among the French nobility during the Middle Ages and was often associated with high social status.
The name Amédée has been worn by several notable figures throughout history. One of the most famous was Amédée de Beauharnais, who served as a French general during the Napoleonic Wars and later became the Duke of Leuchtenberg after marrying Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna of Russia. Another notable figure was Amédée II de Savoie, the Duke of Savoy from 1849 to 1852.
In literature, Amédée is the protagonist of "The Metamorphosis of Amédée" by French writer René Magritte. The story follows a man who discovers that his body is slowly turning into furniture.
Today, Amédée remains a relatively rare given name in France and other French-speaking countries, but it continues to be associated with refinement and elegance due to its historic roots among the French nobility. It is often shortened to the nickname "Médi" or "Amé.
Based on the statistics provided, the name Amedee has seen a varied level of popularity over the years in the United States. Between 1902 and 1926, there were a total of 58 babies named Amedee, with the highest number of births occurring in 1923 and 1916, each with 8 births. The name saw a resurgence in popularity in more recent years, with 5 births recorded in both 1981 and 1990. Overall, there have been a total of 70 babies named Amedee born in the United States over the years.