The nameÉmile
Émile is a classic French name, used in English with or without its accent.
- Boy's name
- French
Meaning
Émile comes from the Roman family name Aemilius, often linked to aemulus, "rival".
Origin
French, from Latin.
History
Rousseau's Émile, or On Education, published in 1762, made the name famous across Europe. In the United States Emile reached 283rd place in 1882. In England and Wales its best rank since 1996 is 516th, in 2002.
Émile in other languages
Émile is the French form of Emil. It is Emilio in Italian and Spanish and Emílio in Portuguese. Rousseau gave the name to the pupil of his treatise on education, Emile.
Did you know?
- In 1898 Émile Zola published "J'accuse...!" in the newspaper L'Aurore in defence of Captain Dreyfus.
Famous people named Émile
- Émile Zola, novelist
- Émile Durkheim, sociologist
- Emile Heskey, footballer
Popularity of the name Émile
Émile in the United States
Émile was most popular in the United States in the 1920s, with 1,482 births over the decade, 16% of all recorded babies named Émile. Half of all babies named Émile in the United States were born before 1942, so it is mostly a grandparents' generation name. Over the last five years on record, it has been rising: 75 births a year on average, against 64 in the five years before.
Émile in the United Kingdom
Émile was most popular in the United Kingdom in the 2010s, with 352 births over the decade, 40% of all recorded babies named Émile. Half of all babies named Émile in the United Kingdom were born before 2012, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, its popularity has held steady at around 32 births a year.
Émile in France
Émile in Belgium
Émile in Switzerland
Variants and related names
Sibling names for Émile
Names from the same generation as Émile, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named Émile? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Émile with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Émile side by side with the name of your choice.
Émile in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Émile mean?
Émile comes from the Roman family name Aemilius, often linked to aemulus, "rival".
What is the origin of the name Émile?
French, from Latin.
Is Émile a girl's or a boy's name?
Émile is a boy's name. In the United States, 7% of the babies named Émile are girls.
How popular is the name Émile?
In 2024, Émile was the 1924th most popular name for baby boys in the United States, with 82 births.
What are the variants of the name Émile?
Variants and related names of Émile include Emil, Emilio and Milo.
What are good sibling names for Émile?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Francine, Lorraine, Josette and Marguerite for a sister, Pascal, Frederic, Augustin and Leroy for a brother.
Who are famous people named Émile?
Émile Zola, novelist; Émile Durkheim, sociologist; Emile Heskey, footballer.