The nameEmily
Emily is a girl's name of Latin origin, from the Roman family name Aemilius. It was the most popular girls' name in the United States from 1996 to 2007.
- Girl's name
- Latin
- Feast day
Meaning
Emily comes from Aemilia, feminine of the Roman family name Aemilius, often linked to the Latin aemulus, "rival, eager".
Origin
Latin, through Italian and German. The name came to England with the Hanoverians in the 18th century, through the German Amelie, and soon took the English form Emily.
History
The poet Emily Dickinson and the novelist Emily Brontë, author of Wuthering Heights, gave the name a literary aura. It ranked first in the United States from 1996 to 2007, and in England and Wales in 2003 and 2004.
Did you know?
- Only about ten of Emily Dickinson's nearly 1,800 poems were published in her lifetime.
- Wuthering Heights, published in 1847, is Emily Brontë's only novel.
Famous people named Emily
- Emily Brontë, novelist
- Emily Dickinson, poet
- Emily Blunt, actress
Popularity of the name Emily
Emily in the United States
Emily was most popular in the United States in the 1990s, with 237,644 births over the decade, 27% of all recorded babies named Emily. Its rise began around 1973, and it peaked in 1999. Half of all babies named Emily in the United States were born before 1997. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 6,433 births a year on average, against 9,929 in the five years before.
Emily in the United Kingdom
Emily was most popular in the United Kingdom in the 2000s, with 56,848 births over the decade, 43% of all recorded babies named Emily. Half of all babies named Emily in the United Kingdom were born before 2007, so it is mostly a name of today's children and teenagers. Over the last five years on record, it has been falling: 1,726 births a year on average, against 3,313 in the five years before.
Emily in Ireland
Emily in France
Emily in Belgium
Emily in Switzerland
Emily in Austria
Emily in Norway
Variants and related names
Sibling names for Emily
Names from the same generation as Emily, whose popularity in the United States has followed a similar path.
How many people are named Emily? See the counter → · What would your name be in 1950? · Name origin quiz
Compare Emily with another name
Meaning, origin and popularity of Emily side by side with the name of your choice.
Emily in our baby name lists
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Emily mean?
Emily comes from Aemilia, feminine of the Roman family name Aemilius, often linked to the Latin aemulus, "rival, eager".
What is the origin of the name Emily?
Latin, through Italian and German. The name came to England with the Hanoverians in the 18th century, through the German Amelie, and soon took the English form Emily.
Is Emily a girl's or a boy's name?
Emily is a girl's name.
How popular is the name Emily?
In 2024, Emily was the 25th most popular name for baby girls in the United States, with 5,955 births.
What are the variants of the name Emily?
Variants and related names of Emily include Emilie.
What are good sibling names for Emily?
Names from the same generation, with a similar popularity in the United States: Julia, Madison, Anna and Victoria for a sister, Anthony, Christian, Andrew and Ryan for a brother.
Who are famous people named Emily?
Emily Brontë, novelist; Emily Dickinson, poet; Emily Blunt, actress.