The name Emma has its origins in the Germanic language and is derived from the word "ermen," meaning "whole" or "universal." It is believed to have originated as a shortened form of the longer Germanic names like Ermentrude or Irmengard.

Emma first appeared in Europe during the Middle Ages, particularly in Germany and England. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book, a survey of land ownership commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, where it was spelled "Eme" or "Emme."

In the 12th century, Emma became a popular name among the English nobility, likely influenced by the Norman French culture that had been introduced to England after the Norman Conquest. One notable bearer of the name was Emma of Normandy, who was born around 985 and married two English kings, Ethelred the Unready and Cnut the Great.

The name gained further prominence in the 13th century when Emma of Lesum, a German mystic and Benedictine nun, lived from around 1200 to 1284. Her spiritual writings and reputation for piety contributed to the name's popularity in Germanic regions.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Emma. Emma Lazarus (1849-1887) was an American poet and author best known for her sonnet "The New Colossus," which is inscribed on the Statue of Liberty. Emma Bovary is the protagonist of Gustave Flaubert's acclaimed 1856 novel "Madame Bovary," which explored the life of a provincial housewife in 19th-century France.

In the realm of science, Emma Noether (1882-1935) was a pioneering German mathematician who made groundbreaking contributions to abstract algebra and theoretical physics. Emma Goldman (1869-1940) was a Russian-born political activist, writer, and influential figure in the anarchist movement in the United States.

Another notable Emma was Emma Woodhouse, the central character in Jane Austen's novel "Emma," published in 1815. The book's exploration of Emma's misguided attempts at matchmaking and her eventual growth and self-awareness made her a beloved and enduring literary figure.