Emily first name popularity, history and meaning

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

Meaning of Emily

A feminine name of Latin origin meaning "industrious" or "eager".

Popularity of Emily by gender

Based on the last 50 years of data, Emily is more commonly used as a female name, with approximately 100% of people named Emily being female.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 6,154 female babies and 9 male babies born with the name Emily.

Yes—according to the SSA data, 9 baby boys were named Emily in 2023, despite it being a predominantly female name. We'd love to know why!

Year Male Count Female Count
2023 9 6,154
2022 0 6,461
2021 6 6,577
2020 11 6,908
2019 8 8,248
2018 11 8,706
2017 5 9,806
2016 7 10,994
2015 17 11,801
2014 11 12,656
2013 20 13,137
2012 21 13,660
2011 11 14,270
2010 20 14,278
2009 19 15,360
2008 26 17,441
2007 27 19,359
2006 31 21,410
2005 33 23,949
2004 120 25,040
2003 41 25,691
2002 34 24,468
2001 32 25,059
2000 30 25,957
1999 45 26,539
1998 38 26,185
1997 35 25,735
1996 34 25,151
1995 40 24,381
1994 31 24,151
1993 43 23,592
1992 31 21,834
1991 34 20,310
1990 53 19,366
1989 82 17,323
1988 57 15,869
1987 51 14,710
1986 57 13,236
1985 47 13,137
1984 53 12,786
1983 44 12,376
1982 55 12,519
1981 48 10,800
1980 33 9,003
1979 27 7,971
1978 21 7,478
1977 17 6,880
1976 20 5,548
1975 16 5,483
1974 18 4,330

The history of the first name Emily

The name Emily has its origins in the ancient Roman Empire. It is derived from the Latin name Aemilia, which was originally a feminine form of the family name Aemilius. The Aemilii were a prominent Roman family that traced its roots back to the founding of Rome.

The name Aemilia was likely derived from the Latin word "aemulus," meaning "rival" or "eager." This suggests that the name may have been associated with ambition, competitiveness, or a desire to excel. The name's transition from Aemilia to Emily occurred through various language shifts and translations over the centuries.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Emily can be found in the writings of the Roman historian Suetonius, who lived from around 69 to 122 AD. He documented the life of a woman named Aemilia Lepida, who was a member of the Aemilian family and lived during the 1st century AD.

During the Middle Ages, the name Emily gained popularity in various parts of Europe, particularly in England and France. One notable figure was Emily of Provence (circa 1180-1213), a French noblewoman who became the queen consort of England through her marriage to King John.

In the 13th century, Emily de Vichy (born around 1220) was a French mystic and anchoress who lived a life of religious devotion and is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church.

The Renaissance period saw the rise of another prominent Emily, Emily of Nassau (1540-1582). She was a Dutch noblewoman and the daughter of William the Silent, a leading figure in the Dutch struggle for independence from Spain.

In the literary realm, Emily Dickinson (1830-1886) was an American poet renowned for her unique style and profound insights. Her works, often characterized by their brevity and depth, have had a lasting impact on the world of poetry.

The name Emily has maintained its popularity throughout history and continues to be a beloved choice for parents worldwide. While its origins can be traced back to ancient Rome, the name has transcended cultural boundaries and taken on various meanings and associations over time.

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 Emily was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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"Emily first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on November 8, 2024. http://namecensus.com/first-names/emily-meaning-and-history/.

"Emily first name popularity, history and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/first-names/emily-meaning-and-history/. Accessed 8 November, 2024

Emily first name popularity, history and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/first-names/emily-meaning-and-history/.

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