Embree
An English name, potentially derived from the surname Embree or Embury.
Name Census estimates that about 435 living Americans carry the first name Embree. It is a predominantly female name (97.8% of registrations). The average person named Embree today is around 10 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Embree births was 2017 (39 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Embree. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
People living today
435
~ 1 in 787,941 Americans
Peak year
2017
39 babies that year
Average age
10
years old
1940 SSA rank
#3,604
Tracked since 1919
Gender
Gender distribution for Embree
Embree leans heavily female at 97.8% of total registrations, but 10 boys have also been registered with the name over the years, giving it a small but present crossover presence.
Embree as a male name
- Ranked #3,604 in 1940
- 5 male births in 1940
- Peak: 1919 (5 births)
Embree as a female name
- Ranked #5,990 in 2024
- 20 female births in 2024
- Peak: 2017 (39 births)
Popularity
Embree: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Embree from the 1910s through to the 2020s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 290 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Embree remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Embree by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Embree during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Embrees live
The SSA's state-level files cover 4 states and territories. Texas, Alabama, Mississippi recorded the most babies named Embree, while North Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 9 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Embree
The name Embree is believed to have originated from the Old English language, which was spoken in parts of Britain during the early medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "embrene," which means "ember" or "glowing coal." This suggests that the name may have been used to describe someone with a fiery temperament or perhaps someone who worked with fire, such as a blacksmith or a glassmaker.
The earliest recorded use of the name Embree dates back to the 13th century, where it appears in various historical documents and records from that time period. One of the earliest known individuals with the name was Embree of Warwick, a prominent landowner who lived in the county of Warwickshire, England, during the late 13th century.
In the 14th century, the name Embree was also recorded in religious texts and chronicles. One notable figure was Brother Embree, a Benedictine monk who lived in the Abbey of St. Edmund in Suffolk, England. He was known for his scholarly work and contributions to the abbey's library.
During the Renaissance period, the name Embree gained some popularity among the nobility and upper classes. One famous bearer of the name was Sir Embree Willoughby, a knight and courtier who served under King Henry VIII in the early 16th century. He was renowned for his military exploits and his involvement in the English Reformation.
Another historical figure with the name Embree was Captain Embree Hawthorn, a naval officer who served in the British Royal Navy during the 18th century. He is remembered for his participation in several naval battles, including the Battle of Quiberon Bay during the Seven Years' War.
In the 19th century, the name Embree was also associated with literary figures. One such individual was Embree Browning, an English poet and writer who was part of the Romantic movement. He was known for his lyrical poetry and his collaboration with his famous sister, Elizabeth Barrett Browning.
While the name Embree has become less common in modern times, it continues to hold historical significance and is a reflection of the rich cultural heritage of the English language and the people who have borne this name throughout the centuries.
People
Embree + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Embree as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with E
Other first names starting with E with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Embree: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Embree?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 435 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Embree going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 787,941 US residents.
Is Embree a common name?
We classify Embree as "Very Rare". It ranks above 83.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 446 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Embree most popular?
The single biggest year for Embree was 2017, when 39 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Embree is about 10 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Embree a female name?
Yes, 97.8% of people registered as Embree in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.