Find out how popular the first name Emile has been for the last 50 years (from 1974 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Emile by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Emile is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 83% of people named Emile being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 65 male babies and 0 female babies born with the name Emile.

The history of the first name Emile

The name Emile originated from the Roman family name Aemilius, derived from the Latin word aemulus, meaning "rival". This name was first recorded in ancient Rome and was particularly popular among the aristocratic Aemilian family. The name Aemilius later evolved into the French form Emile during the Middle Ages.

In the 4th century, there was a Roman grammarian named Emilius Asper who wrote a commentary on the works of Virgil. This is one of the earliest documented uses of the name Emilius. During the Middle Ages, Emile became a popular name in France, with many notable individuals bearing this name.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Emile is Saint Emile de Rouen, a 7th-century bishop of Rouen in France. He was known for his charitable works and for founding several monasteries in the region. Another notable figure was Emile Littré (1801-1881), a French philosopher, lexicographer, and translator who is best known for his influential dictionary, the Dictionnaire de la langue française.

In the realm of literature, Emile Zola (1840-1902) was a renowned French novelist and a leading figure in the literary movement of naturalism. His works, such as the Rougon-Macquart cycle, explored the social and moral issues of his time. Another famous writer was Emile Durkheim (1858-1917), a French sociologist who is considered one of the founders of modern sociology.

In the field of science, Emile Borel (1871-1956) was a French mathematician and one of the pioneers of measure theory and probability theory. His contributions to the field of mathematics were widely recognized. Emile Berliner (1851-1929), a German-American inventor, is best known for inventing the flat disc record and the Gramophone, which revolutionized the recording industry.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals who bore the name Emile throughout history, showcasing its enduring popularity and cultural significance across various fields and disciplines.

Data source

The first name data used on this page comes from the Social Security Administration (SSA). They've been collecting data on baby names since 1880.

The history and meaning of the name Emile was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Emile, please contact us.

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