The name Aimée is of French origin and means "beloved" or "dear". It is derived from the Old French word 'aimé', which itself comes from the verb 'aimer' meaning 'to love'. The name has been popular throughout history, particularly in France, where it has been used for both boys and girls.
The use of Aimée as a girl's name gained prominence during the Middle Ages in France. It was often given to daughters as an expression of parental affection. In some cases, it was also used as a diminutive form of names like Amélie or Amandine, which have similar meanings.
In literature and art, Aimée has been used by various authors and artists to create characters who embody love and kindness. One notable example is Aimée Lavigne, the protagonist in Émile Zola's novel "Nana". However, despite its historical and literary significance, Aimée remains relatively rare today outside of France.
The name Aime experienced a peak in popularity during the early 1900s, with significant spikes in births from 1917 to 1922, reaching an all-time high of 22 births each year for three consecutive years (1917-1919). However, its prevalence declined steadily throughout the mid-to-late 20th century, with only occasional isolated instances of popularity since the 1940s. Notably, there was a small resurgence in the late 2000s, with five births recorded each year from 2008 to 2009. Overall, Aime has been given to a total of 474 children over the years spanning these statistics.