Charlotte Girl
SHAHR-luht
“free man” · French
#2
Emily
GirlLatin, English· “rival, striving”
- Meaning
- rival, striving
- Origin
- Latin, English
- Pronunciation
- EH-muh-lee
- Syllables
- 3
- US rank 2025
- #34
- US babies 2025
- 5,451
- Best rank
- #1 (1996)
- Peak year
- 1999
Meaning and origin of Emily
Emily is a Latin and English name that is usually said to mean “rival, striving”.
Emily comes from Aemilia, the feminine form of the Roman family name Aemilius. The family name is often linked to the Latin aemulus, "rival" or "striving to equal", though the connection is not certain. Chaucer used the form Emelye for the heroine of The Knight's Tale, but the name became widespread in English only in the eighteenth century and remained a favorite through the Victorian era. The poet Emily Dickinson and the novelist Emily Bronte, author of Wuthering Heights, gave it deep literary associations. In modern times it became one of the most chosen girl names in the English-speaking world. Emily sounds gentle and classic, with Em and Emmy as nicknames.
Popularity over time
Emily has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 146 different years. Its best national rank was #1 in 1996, and the most babies received it in 1999, when 26,542 were named Emily. In 2025, 5,451 babies were named Emily, and it ranked #34 nationally. That is 54% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #119 in 1920, #203 in 1950, #31 in 1980, #1 in 2000, #6 in 2010, and #34 in 2025. Of the 896,487 US girls named Emily since records began, 26% were born in the 1990s, its biggest decade. The 2000s come next, with 223,768 babies. Since 2010, 155,268 more have been named Emily.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Hannah, Alyssa, Brianna, Sydney, and Destiny.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Emily ranked highest in California, Florida, and New Jersey.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| California | #16 | 910 |
| Florida | #18 | 447 |
| New Jersey | #18 | 206 |
| Texas | #21 | 687 |
| Washington | #23 | 147 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Emily is usually pronounced EH-muh-lee, with three syllables. It has five letters, starts with E and ends in “-ly”.
Middle names for Emily
A few middle names that flow with Emily: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Emily
Similar names
Lily Girl
LIH-lee
“lily flower” · English
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SES-uh-lee
“from Caecilius; traditionally 'blind'” · English
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Everly Girl
EH-vur-lee
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Annabelle Girl
A-nuh-behl
“lovable; or Anna plus belle” · English
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Miranda Girl
mur-AN-duh
“worthy of admiration” · Latin
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Olivia Girl
oh-LIH-vee-uh
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Kimberly Girl
KIHM-bur-lee
“from an English place name” · Old English
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Emely Girl
EH-muh-lee
“rival” · American (modern coinage)
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Nataly Girl
NA-tuh-lee
“form of Natalie; Christmas Day” · Latin
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Emilly Girl
EH-mih-lee
“variant of Emily, rival” · Latin
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Amelia Girl
uh-MEEL-yuh
“work” · Germanic
#4
Violet Girl
VY-uh-liht
“violet flower” · English
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Lists that include Emily
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Emily mean?
Emily is a Latin and English name that is usually said to mean “rival, striving”.
What is the origin of the name Emily?
Emily has Latin and English roots. Emily comes from Aemilia, the feminine form of the Roman family name Aemilius.
Is Emily a popular name?
Yes. Emily ranked #34 in the US in 2025, which makes it one of the 100 most popular names.
Is Emily a boy or girl name?
Emily is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Emily?
Emily is usually pronounced EH-muh-lee. 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