Fun Facts About the Name Emily
- Back among the favorites: Emily returned to the U.S. top 100 in 1883 and stayed there for 53 consecutive years, through 2025.
- Still popular, but losing ground: Emily's rank fell 31 places between 1995 and 2025, while remaining in the top 100.
- More than 898 thousand babies named Emily: U.S. records list 898,230 babies given the name Emily from 1880 through 2025. Even 1,809 boys received the name Emily - about 1 boy for every 496 girls.
What Does the Name Emily Mean?
Emily is the English form of the Latin name Aemilia, the feminine of Aemilius, a Roman family name (the gens Aemilia). The family name is usually traced to the Latin adjective aemulus, meaning "rival" or "emulating." The origin of aemulus itself is uncertain; some scholars have proposed a connection to Greek words such as haimylos ("wily, flattering"), but this is not settled. The straightforward sense is "rival." The common gloss "industrious" or "hardworking" is a later softening rather than a literal translation of the Latin word.
Emily Name History & Origins
The gens Aemilia was one of the oldest patrician families of Rome, and the feminine Aemilia was used as a Roman given name. The name passed into medieval Latin and Old French and reached English in forms such as Emelye and Emilia. Geoffrey Chaucer used Emelye in "The Knight's Tale" in The Canterbury Tales in the late 14th century; the name was already in use, and the poem reflects rather than originates it.
Related forms developed separately in other languages: Emilia in Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese, Émilie in French, and Emelie in older English and Scandinavian use. The similar-looking Amelia has a different background, from the Germanic Amalia (linked to amal, "work"), and the two names have often been confused. In the 19th century the name was well established in Britain and America, borne by figures such as the novelists Emily Brontë and Emily Dickinson, and by the earlier English writer Emily Eden.
How Popular is the Name Emily?
Emily has a rich multi-era history in the U.S. top 100, spanning 81 total years and enjoying its modern revival from 1973 to 2025.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #34 | 5,451 | 0.3391% |
| 2024 | #25 | 5,955 | 0.3691% |
| 2023 | #19 | 6,172 | 0.3851% |
| 2022 | #17 | 6,495 | 0.3963% |
| 2021 | #21 | 6,591 | 0.4020% |
| 2020 | #18 | 6,914 | 0.4280% |
| 2019 | #12 | 8,256 | 0.4921% |
| 2018 | #12 | 8,716 | 0.5126% |
| 2017 | #12 | 9,813 | 0.5686% |
| 2016 | #9 | 11,004 | 0.6212% |
| 2015 | #8 | 11,806 | 0.6615% |
| 2014 | #7 | 12,667 | 0.7093% |
| 2013 | #7 | 13,142 | 0.7491% |
| 2012 | #6 | 13,664 | 0.7760% |
| 2011 | #6 | 14,277 | 0.8117% |
| 2010 | #6 | 14,281 | 0.8035% |
| 2009 | #6 | 15,362 | 0.8363% |
| 2008 | #3 | 17,445 | 0.9227% |
| 2007 | #1 | 19,366 | 1.0074% |
| 2006 | #1 | 21,411 | 1.1263% |
| 2005 | #1 | 23,950 | 1.2962% |
| 2004 | #1 | 25,041 | 1.3638% |
| 2003 | #1 | 25,693 | 1.4063% |
| 2002 | #1 | 24,469 | 1.3618% |
| 2001 | #1 | 25,059 | 1.3917% |
| 2000 | #1 | 25,959 | 1.4295% |
| 1999 | #1 | 26,542 | 1.4964% |
| 1998 | #1 | 26,188 | 1.4822% |
| 1997 | #1 | 25,735 | 1.4785% |
| 1996 | #1 | 25,150 | 1.4347% |
| 1995 | #3 | 24,383 | 1.3866% |
| 1994 | #3 | 24,153 | 1.3526% |
| 1993 | #5 | 23,596 | 1.3044% |
| 1992 | #7 | 21,834 | 1.1841% |
| 1991 | #10 | 20,311 | 1.0833% |
| 1990 | #12 | 19,368 | 1.0202% |
| 1989 | #13 | 17,324 | 0.9397% |
| 1988 | #18 | 15,871 | 0.8912% |
| 1987 | #19 | 14,711 | 0.8461% |
| 1986 | #24 | 13,236 | 0.7715% |
| 1985 | #24 | 13,143 | 0.7638% |
| 1984 | #24 | 12,786 | 0.7593% |
| 1983 | #25 | 12,377 | 0.7408% |
| 1982 | #24 | 12,521 | 0.7394% |
| 1981 | #29 | 10,799 | 0.6474% |
| 1980 | #31 | 9,002 | 0.5422% |
| 1979 | #34 | 7,971 | 0.4965% |
| 1978 | #33 | 7,473 | 0.4878% |
| 1977 | #37 | 6,879 | 0.4487% |
| 1976 | #50 | 5,549 | 0.3787% |
| 1975 | #48 | 5,483 | 0.3761% |
| 1974 | #69 | 4,330 | 0.2951% |
| 1973 | #99 | 3,027 | 0.2076% |
| 1972 | #131 | 2,334 | 0.1534% |
| 1971 | #166 | 1,866 | 0.1122% |
| 1970 | #173 | 1,931 | 0.1105% |
| 1969 | #198 | 1,576 | 0.0934% |
| 1968 | #225 | 1,326 | 0.0808% |
| 1967 | #239 | 1,205 | 0.0730% |
| 1966 | #237 | 1,249 | 0.0738% |
| 1965 | #238 | 1,288 | 0.0730% |
| 1964 | #268 | 1,131 | 0.0597% |
| 1963 | #269 | 1,108 | 0.0575% |
| 1962 | #273 | 1,079 | 0.0549% |
| 1961 | #265 | 1,146 | 0.0568% |
| 1960 | #250 | 1,226 | 0.0606% |
| 1959 | #250 | 1,214 | 0.0600% |
| 1958 | #254 | 1,172 | 0.0583% |
| 1957 | #246 | 1,207 | 0.0590% |
| 1956 | #230 | 1,282 | 0.0639% |
| 1955 | #223 | 1,303 | 0.0666% |
| 1954 | #218 | 1,342 | 0.0691% |
| 1953 | #220 | 1,325 | 0.0704% |
| 1952 | #207 | 1,392 | 0.0751% |
| 1951 | #212 | 1,287 | 0.0715% |
| 1950 | #203 | 1,316 | 0.0768% |
| 1949 | #196 | 1,392 | 0.0814% |
| 1948 | #194 | 1,391 | 0.0819% |
| 1947 | #187 | 1,470 | 0.0829% |
| 1946 | #186 | 1,379 | 0.0878% |
| 1945 | #181 | 1,134 | 0.0868% |
| 1944 | #170 | 1,251 | 0.0943% |
| 1943 | #175 | 1,336 | 0.0958% |
| 1942 | #164 | 1,419 | 0.1051% |
| 1941 | #162 | 1,368 | 0.1132% |
| 1940 | #164 | 1,269 | 0.1110% |
| 1939 | #163 | 1,292 | 0.1178% |
| 1938 | #164 | 1,308 | 0.1185% |
| 1937 | #161 | 1,293 | 0.1215% |
| 1936 | #171 | 1,123 | 0.1079% |
| 1935 | #173 | 1,094 | 0.1043% |
| 1934 | #175 | 1,067 | 0.1022% |
| 1933 | #171 | 1,062 | 0.1054% |
| 1932 | #168 | 1,147 | 0.1075% |
| 1931 | #159 | 1,186 | 0.1114% |
| 1930 | #154 | 1,344 | 0.1194% |
| 1929 | #151 | 1,444 | 0.1293% |
| 1928 | #150 | 1,559 | 0.1352% |
| 1927 | #146 | 1,656 | 0.1389% |
| 1926 | #142 | 1,729 | 0.1459% |
| 1925 | #145 | 1,767 | 0.1451% |
| 1924 | #136 | 2,044 | 0.1637% |
| 1923 | #128 | 2,057 | 0.1705% |
| 1922 | #121 | 2,146 | 0.1787% |
| 1921 | #121 | 2,184 | 0.1771% |
| 1920 | #119 | 2,168 | 0.1809% |
| 1919 | #105 | 2,307 | 0.2041% |
| 1918 | #105 | 2,361 | 0.2040% |
| 1917 | #103 | 2,220 | 0.2053% |
| 1916 | #100 | 2,213 | 0.2119% |
| 1915 | #99 | 2,091 | 0.2125% |
| 1914 | #98 | 1,650 | 0.2167% |
| 1913 | #99 | 1,386 | 0.2219% |
| 1912 | #105 | 1,147 | 0.2055% |
| 1911 | #103 | 909 | 0.2173% |
| 1910 | #110 | 785 | 0.1980% |
| 1909 | #103 | 749 | 0.2157% |
| 1908 | #103 | 732 | 0.2190% |
| 1907 | #100 | 714 | 0.2241% |
| 1906 | #104 | 619 | 0.2096% |
| 1905 | #100 | 683 | 0.2342% |
| 1904 | #103 | 599 | 0.2175% |
| 1903 | #101 | 558 | 0.2130% |
| 1902 | #97 | 606 | 0.2295% |
| 1901 | #99 | 537 | 0.2244% |
| 1900 | #105 | 626 | 0.2088% |
| 1899 | #96 | 569 | 0.2442% |
| 1898 | #94 | 628 | 0.2427% |
| 1897 | #88 | 619 | 0.2643% |
| 1896 | #96 | 527 | 0.2215% |
| 1895 | #89 | 605 | 0.2590% |
| 1894 | #93 | 551 | 0.2472% |
| 1893 | #95 | 506 | 0.2377% |
| 1892 | #94 | 518 | 0.2439% |
| 1891 | #95 | 444 | 0.2394% |
| 1890 | #86 | 509 | 0.2674% |
| 1889 | #93 | 429 | 0.2405% |
| 1888 | #90 | 457 | 0.2558% |
| 1887 | #98 | 335 | 0.2295% |
| 1886 | #93 | 369 | 0.2553% |
| 1885 | #87 | 346 | 0.2600% |
| 1884 | #81 | 364 | 0.2821% |
| 1883 | #81 | 342 | 0.3045% |
| 1882 | #95 | 272 | 0.2522% |
| 1881 | #90 | 244 | 0.2654% |
| 1880 | #100 | 210 | 0.2308% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #7,833 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2024 | #7,891 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2023 | #8,439 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2021 | #11,156 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2020 | #7,156 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2019 | #9,126 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2018 | #7,268 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2017 | #12,851 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2016 | #9,961 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2015 | #5,360 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2014 | #7,192 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2013 | #4,672 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 2012 | #4,583 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 2011 | #7,142 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2010 | #4,730 | 20 | 0.0010% |
| 2009 | #4,983 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 2008 | #3,968 | 26 | 0.0013% |
| 2007 | #3,814 | 27 | 0.0013% |
| 2006 | #3,405 | 31 | 0.0015% |
| 2005 | #3,108 | 33 | 0.0017% |
| 2004 | #1,256 | 120 | 0.0060% |
| 2003 | #2,519 | 41 | 0.0021% |
| 2002 | #2,774 | 34 | 0.0018% |
| 2001 | #2,885 | 32 | 0.0016% |
| 2000 | #2,939 | 30 | 0.0015% |
| 1999 | #2,110 | 45 | 0.0023% |
| 1998 | #2,320 | 38 | 0.0020% |
| 1997 | #2,361 | 35 | 0.0019% |
| 1996 | #2,348 | 34 | 0.0018% |
| 1995 | #2,063 | 40 | 0.0021% |
| 1994 | #2,463 | 31 | 0.0016% |
| 1993 | #1,915 | 43 | 0.0022% |
| 1992 | #2,376 | 31 | 0.0016% |
| 1991 | #2,160 | 34 | 0.0017% |
| 1990 | #1,573 | 53 | 0.0026% |
| 1989 | #1,177 | 82 | 0.0041% |
| 1988 | #1,377 | 57 | 0.0030% |
| 1987 | #1,428 | 51 | 0.0027% |
| 1986 | #1,289 | 57 | 0.0031% |
| 1985 | #1,435 | 47 | 0.0025% |
| 1984 | #1,270 | 53 | 0.0029% |
| 1983 | #1,434 | 44 | 0.0025% |
| 1982 | #1,260 | 55 | 0.0030% |
| 1981 | #1,363 | 48 | 0.0027% |
| 1980 | #1,741 | 33 | 0.0018% |
| 1979 | #1,960 | 27 | 0.0016% |
| 1978 | #2,231 | 21 | 0.0013% |
| 1977 | #2,589 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1976 | #2,268 | 20 | 0.0013% |
| 1975 | #2,566 | 16 | 0.0010% |
| 1974 | #2,306 | 18 | 0.0011% |
| 1973 | #2,759 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1972 | #3,221 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1970 | #4,398 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1967 | #4,141 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1956 | #3,301 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1950 | #3,127 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1946 | #3,675 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1945 | #2,825 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1942 | #3,021 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1941 | #2,536 | 9 | 0.0007% |
| 1940 | #3,606 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1939 | #2,672 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1938 | #2,956 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1937 | #3,692 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1936 | #2,971 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1932 | #2,931 | 8 | 0.0008% |
| 1931 | #2,926 | 8 | 0.0008% |
| 1930 | #2,658 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1929 | #3,680 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1927 | #2,574 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1926 | #3,848 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1925 | #4,399 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1924 | #3,615 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1923 | #4,420 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1921 | #4,012 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1920 | #3,595 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1919 | #3,863 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1916 | #4,103 | 5 | 0.0006% |
| 1912 | #2,367 | 6 | 0.0014% |
| 1896 | #1,148 | 5 | 0.0042% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
