Find out how popular the first name Emrys has been for the last 27 years (from 1997 to 2023) and learn more about the meaning and history.

Popularity of Emrys by gender

Based on the last 27 years of data, Emrys is more commonly used as a male name, with approximately 78% of people named Emrys being male.

For the most recent data in 2023, there were 107 male babies and 30 female babies born with the name Emrys.

The history of the first name Emrys

The name Emrys is of Welsh origin, originating from the Brittonic form of the name Ambrosius, which itself is derived from the Greek name Ambrosios, meaning "immortal" or "divine". The name is closely associated with the legendary figure of Merlin, also known as Myrddin Wyllt in Welsh tradition.

The earliest known use of the name Emrys dates back to the 6th century, when it was mentioned in the Welsh prose tale "Cyfranc Lludd a Llefelys" (The Encounter between Lludd and Llefelys). In this tale, Emrys is portrayed as a young boy with prophetic powers who helps the king of Britain, Lludd, to rid his kingdom of three plagues.

The name Emrys gained widespread recognition and popularity through the Arthurian legends, particularly in Geoffrey of Monmouth's 12th-century work "Historia Regum Britanniae" (History of the Kings of Britain). In this work, Emrys is the original name given to the wizard Merlin, who plays a pivotal role in the stories of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Emrys was Emrys Wledig, a 5th-century British ruler who is mentioned in the "Annales Cambriae" (The Annals of Wales). Another notable historical figure was Emrys ap Iwan, a 15th-century Welsh poet and scholar who was a prominent figure in the literary circles of his time.

Throughout history, several other individuals have borne the name Emrys, although the name has remained relatively uncommon. One such person was Emrys Jones (1906-1994), a Welsh writer and poet who was a member of the Nationalist Party of Wales and actively promoted the Welsh language and culture.

Another notable figure was Emrys Roberts (1911-1998), a Welsh actor and playwright who was best known for his roles in films such as "The Elephant Man" and "Gandhi". He was also a prominent figure in the Welsh language theater and was awarded the Order of the British Empire for his contributions to the arts.

The name Emrys has also been used in various works of fiction and popular culture, further cementing its association with the Arthurian legends and the figure of Merlin. One example is the character of Emrys Pendragon, the son of Uther Pendragon and the father of King Arthur, in the TV series "Merlin".

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

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

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