Sophia Girl
soh-FEE-uh
“wisdom” · Greek
#5
Emma
GirlGermanic· “whole, universal”
- Meaning
- whole, universal
- Origin
- Germanic
- Pronunciation
- EH-muh
- Syllables
- 2
- US rank 2025
- #3
- US babies 2025
- 12,754
- Best rank
- #1 (2008)
- Peak year
- 2003
Meaning and origin of Emma
Emma is a Germanic name that means “whole, universal”.
Emma began as a short form of Germanic names built on the element ermen, meaning "whole" or "universal". The Normans carried it to England, where Emma of Normandy became queen consort to two English kings in the eleventh century. Jane Austen gave the name literary polish with her novel Emma, published in 1815, whose clever, meddling heroine still charms readers. The name stayed in steady use in English-speaking countries for centuries and later surged as a modern favorite. Today Emma feels both classic and fresh: short, soft, and easy to spell and pronounce in many languages. It pairs well with longer middle names, and although it rarely needs a nickname, Em and Emmy come naturally.
Popularity over time
Emma 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 2008, and the most babies received it in 2003, when 22,719 were named Emma. In 2025, 12,754 babies were named Emma, and it ranked #3 nationally. That is 38% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #46 in 1920, #154 in 1950, #417 in 1980, #17 in 2000, #3 in 2010, and #3 in 2025. Of the 776,439 US girls named Emma since records began, 25% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 2000s come next, with 181,414 babies.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Abigail, Grace, and Hailey.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Emma ranked highest in Texas, New York, and New Jersey.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | #1 | 1,707 |
| New York | #1 | 774 |
| New Jersey | #1 | 428 |
| Utah | #1 | 193 |
| District of Columbia | #1 | 36 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Emma is usually pronounced EH-muh, with two syllables. It has four letters, starts with E and ends in “-ma”.
Middle names for Emma
A few middle names that flow with Emma: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Emma
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Lists that include Emma
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Emma mean?
Emma is a Germanic name that means “whole, universal”.
What is the origin of the name Emma?
Emma has Germanic roots. Emma began as a short form of Germanic names built on the element ermen, meaning "whole" or "universal".
Is Emma a popular name?
Yes. Emma ranked #3 in the US in 2025, which makes it one of the 100 most popular names.
Is Emma a boy or girl name?
Emma is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Emma?
Emma is usually pronounced EH-muh. 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