Emily
Emily: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈɛm.ə.li/
Meaning and origin of Emily
Root meaning: “rival, emulator”
- A female given name from Latin.
Etymology
English form of Latin Aemilia, a gens name from aemulus (“rival, emulator”).
How popular is Emily?
Since 1880, 896,487 girls and 1,809 boys in the U.S. have been named Emily (100% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #1 in 1996. Its highest rank for boys was #1148 in 1896. In 2025 it ranked #34 for girls, with 5,461 babies given the name.
Names similar to Emily
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More Latin girl names
Sibling name ideas for Emily
Sister and brother names that share Emily's Latin roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Emily FAQ
What does the name Emily mean?
Emily traces back to a root meaning "rival, emulator". A female given name from Latin. English form of Latin Aemilia, a gens name from aemulus (“rival, emulator”).
What is the origin of the name Emily?
Emily is listed as a name of Latin origin.
How popular is the name Emily?
Since 1880, 896,487 girls and 1,809 boys in the U.S. have been named Emily (100% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #1 in 1996. Its highest rank for boys was #1148 in 1896. In 2025 it ranked #34 for girls, with 5,461 babies given the name.
Is Emily a boy or girl name?
Emily is mostly a girl name in the U.S.: 896,487 girls and 1,809 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.