'Amoy' originates from the Southern Min (Hokkien) name for the port represented by the Chinese characters '厦门' (Xiamen), reflecting Western transcription of the local pronunciation.

'Amoy' entered European languages via early maritime contacts (Portuguese/Malay traders and Western merchants) as a transcription of the local Minnan pronunciation of '厦门'; it was used in English through the 19th and early 20th centuries and later replaced in common international use by the pinyin form 'Xiamen'.

Initially, it referred primarily to the port city as known to foreign traders; over time the name also came to denote the local Southern Min dialect and was adopted in brand and place names before 'Xiamen' became the standard international form.