How popular is the name Amelie?

My 2 year old daughter is called Amelie. I go to many toddler group etc and I have not met another Amelie yet! plenty of Amelia's though. We do not have a french connection and are not common either! which I think is a silly comment to make.

It is a beautiful name and we love it. We got many lovely complements of the name when announced it.

Sorry if someone has said this already - Amelie is 54th in the 2011 chart for England and Wales. Just for a bit of reference, other similar names are,

1st Amelia
5th Emily
35th Millie
54th Amelie
61st Emilia

It's fairly popular, but that's because it's such a beautiful name. If you're thinking of rose for a middle name, then I'm sure there probably be a few around.

It's popular around here and probably appears even more popular because of its similarity to Millie, Emily, Amelia of which there are also lots. Nice enough name though x

Beautiful name IMO!

I know 1. Isla, Daniel and Max are far more popular here.

I think it's about 50th in the name charts.

I used to like it before I knew any Amelies other than the one in the film. Then, the other day I heard a dad shouting 'Amelie' in a garden centre and it did make me cringe a bit.

I agree with the poster who said it is faddy. And it sounds far better with a French accent than an Estuary accent.

i think it depends on where you live.. as i said, it's DD's middle name, she's 5. I don't know any other or heard of any other Amelies

i also think it matters not one jot whether it is after the film or not, or whether you are French or not, or if others think it will date

if you like it , use it

I know 3 Emilias but no one called Amelie. So going on that, I don't think it is very common yet.

Does something have to be a Hollywood blockbuster to be well known? .

The film Amelie is massively influential and has won numerous awards.

Maybe to you LarkinSky, mainstream equals Tom Cruise in some crappy action flick. Not to everyone though. I think it was the most commercially successful foreign film of all time or close to it. Meaning it reached a very wide audience.

It will definitely date. I would place money on it.

Gorgeous name, wonderful film (and it was hardly a mainstream Hollywood blockbuster with A-list stars either).

I don't think it'll date, and it still counts as 'unusual' in my book - it's a far cry from Jane or Sarah in terms of being well-known.

Er, sorry - to answer the original question: I think it is fairly popular. I live in a small town and know of three under twos.

Awful name:

a) Sounds too much like Emily

b) Too faddy

c) The name of a truly awful film

compliment

Reading with interest as I have an Amélie (almost 2 yrs old). She was due to be a Charlotte or possibly an Emily, but didn't look like a Charlotte when born and thought Emily didn't quite go with DD1's name. It was 3am after giving birth and I decided on Amélie as a better version (for us) as it had a French ring to it (I was born in France and am a French teacher) and sounded better with DD1's name.
The film Amelie didn't cross my mind, and I hadn't checked on popular baby name lists as it hadn't crossed my mind before. I now know of an Amelia and think there's another one in the girls' nursery, but I still love it, it's a strong yet pretty name and suits my DD2 down to the ground (and no, she's not dark, petite and quirky?). We've also had nothing but complements on it although a few assume it's Emily so we do sometimes have to do the "like Emily but with an A" for the older generation :)

I love this name but also don't want a name that is too popular for dc no 2. I also have a friend called Amelia but she absolutely hates it and everyone calls her Mimi, without exception!

My DD's middle name is Amélie, she is 5 ,and yes it is after hte film

the reason it is not her first name is two fold. we have an unusual accented surname that people constantly get wrong and did not want her to have the same issue with her first name

and people we mentioned it to said, 'ooh emily, that's a nice name!'

i don't know any Amélies, i know one or two milly's and one amelia

I know four under the age of 1.

However there is always someone else who has the same name as you, it doesn't matter at all! I have a very uncommon name - and yet on facebook, found someone with the exact same first and last name. If you like a name go for it, IMO. Someone will always like it; someone will always hate it. I say pick what you like and if it's not someone's cup of tea then they don't have to name their child or cat or dog or whatever that name!

Rant over, I'll be quiet now

I know 4 Amelies
8 Amelia/Millies
and
11 Emilys

It seems to be quite popular, though I only directly know one; I avoided saying her name for months as I was sure I had misheard, and wasn't sure if she was an Emily or and Amelia.

I didn't even think of the film, I always think of the Mcanns too as one of their twins is called Amelie. I love it, but prefer Amelia btw.

It is your choice at the end of the day!

I think you know that most Amelie's running around were named after a certain film and there was a wave of Amelie's all at one time.

With regards to naming after literature, no I don't think there is anything wrong with that and there doesn't seem to be a wave of certain literary names (unless you read Harry Potter and then perhaps the same applies to Herminone). However, film is medium for the masses and people do tend to pick up on things all at once and I don't think that is the same at all as literary inspiration. If you named your Amelie after reading 'The Wide Sargasso Sea' you might be a different kettle of fish.

amelie is so pretty, and i don't think it matters how popular a name is just so long as you and are partner are ecstatically happy with your choice.

daisystone - I merely think it's amusing that you believe it's 'pretentious and silly' to discover a name through a film...am wondering if this extends to literature? (And therefore was just interested where you think it's ok to discover a name i.e playground/name book, as I don't really think it matters where people find inspiration). And also...am not offended by others opinions I love my dd's name and that's all that matters! :o

DaisyS the OP was asking how popular it was not for a full blown critique of the rights and wherefores.

I happen to have a French DH but I wouldnt find it remotely odd for a British through-and-through couple to use a name with a french connection/origin, I think we're (should be) a bit more cosmopoliton to care. We are that close to France in any case the ties are there its not like taking a swahili name or something, and even then who cares? Obviously the mumsnet name police.