Isabella Girl
ih-zuh-BEH-luh
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#7
Emerson
UnisexEnglish· “son of Emery”
- Meaning
- son of Emery
- Origin
- English
- Pronunciation
- EH-mur-suhn
- Syllables
- 3
- US rank 2025
- #122
- US babies 2025
- 2,241
- Best rank
- #122 (2025)
- Peak year
- 2025
Meaning and origin of Emerson
Emerson is an English name that means “son of Emery”.
Emerson is an English surname meaning "son of Emery", from a medieval given name that came to England with the Normans and traces back to Germanic elements often linked with "work" and "power". The surname gained fame through Ralph Waldo Emerson, the nineteenth-century American essayist and poet who led the Transcendentalist movement. As a first name Emerson was used for boys and is now more often given to girls in the United States. It sounds intelligent and literary, with a friendly rhythm. Emmy, Em and Emory are possible nicknames.
Other spellings with the same sound: Emmerson.
Popularity over time
Emerson first appears in US Social Security records in 1993. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 24 different years, starting in 2002. It is at its all-time high right now: 2025 brought both its best national rank, #122, and its highest count, 2,241 babies. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #1,369 in 2000, #316 in 2010, and #122 in 2025. Of the 34,050 US girls named Emerson since records began, 48% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 2020s come next, with 11,246 babies.
Other babies' names that peaked around the same time include Oakley, Rory, Sutton, Tatum, and Milan.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Emerson ranked highest in South Carolina, New Hampshire, and Maine.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| South Carolina | #46 | 71 |
| New Hampshire | #46 | 21 |
| Maine | #62 | 15 |
| Georgia | #72 | 112 |
| North Carolina | #73 | 122 |
Gender, sound and spelling
Emerson is used for both boys and girls: over the last 20 years about 61% of US babies named Emerson were girls and 39% were boys.
Emerson is usually pronounced EH-mur-suhn, with three syllables. It has seven letters, starts with E and ends in “-on”. Names that sound the same but are spelled differently include Emmerson.
Middle names for Emerson
A few middle names that flow with Emerson: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Emerson
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Lists that include Emerson
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Emerson mean?
Emerson is an English name that means “son of Emery”.
What is the origin of the name Emerson?
Emerson has English roots. Emerson is an English surname meaning "son of Emery", from a medieval given name that came to England with the Normans and traces back to Germanic elements often linked with "work" and "power".
Is Emerson a popular name?
Yes. Emerson ranked #122 in the US in 2025, which makes it in the top 1,000.
Is Emerson a boy or girl name?
Emerson is used for both boys and girls: over the last 20 years about 61% of US babies named Emerson were girls and 39% were boys.
How do you pronounce Emerson?
Emerson is usually pronounced EH-mur-suhn. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings