Find out how popular the first name Emmah has been for the last 27 years (from 1998 to 2024) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Emmah by gender

Based on the last 27 years of data, Emmah is exclusively a female name.

For the most recent data in 2024, there were 8 female babies and 0 male babies born with the name Emmah.

The history of the first name Emmah

The name Emmah is a variant spelling of the name Emma, which has its origins in the Germanic languages. It is derived from the Germanic word "ermen," meaning "whole" or "universal." The name was initially popularized in the medieval period, particularly in regions where Germanic languages were spoken, such as England, Germany, and the Netherlands.

One of the earliest known historical references to the name Emma can be found in the Domesday Book, a record of land ownership in England compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. The book mentions several individuals bearing the name, including Emma de Port, who held lands in Essex.

In the 12th century, Emma was the name of an influential English noblewoman, Emma of Normandy (c. 984-1052). She was the wife of two successive kings of England, Ethelred the Unready and Cnut the Great, and played a significant role in the political affairs of her time.

Another notable historical figure with the name Emma was Emma of Lesum (c. 980-1038), a German noblewoman and abbess who founded the Benedictine convent of Lesum near Bremen. She was highly regarded for her piety and charitable works.

In the realm of literature, Emma is the title character of Jane Austen's novel "Emma," published in 1815. The novel's protagonist, Emma Woodhouse, is a wealthy and privileged young woman who takes pleasure in matchmaking but eventually learns valuable lessons about love and self-knowledge.

One of the most famous Emmas in modern history was Emma Goldman (1869-1940), a Russian-born anarchist and feminist who played a pivotal role in the development of anarchist political philosophy in the United States and Europe.

Other notable individuals named Emma include Emma Lazarus (1849-1887), an American poet best known for her sonnet "The New Colossus," which is inscribed on the Statue of Liberty; Emma Thompson (born 1959), a British actress and screenwriter who won an Academy Award for her adaptation of Jane Austen's "Sense and Sensibility"; and Emma Watson (born 1990), a British actress and activist who rose to fame for her role as Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter film series.

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

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

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