NameGen

Emily

Latin girl's name meaning rival; eager

Gender
Girl
Origin
Latin
Meaning
rival; eager
Syllables
3
Letters
5
US rank (2023)
#18
Born in 2023
6,172
Peak year
1998 (#1)

Meaning & origin

Emily comes from the Roman family name Aemilius, meaning 'rival' or 'eager, industrious'. The poet Emily Dickinson is a famous bearer.

Is Emily a Latin name?

Yes — Emily is a Latin name meaning "rival; eager". Emily comes from the Roman family name Aemilius, meaning 'rival' or 'eager, industrious'. The poet Emily Dickinson is a famous bearer. You may also see it described as Roman, which refer to the same root.

Popularity

In the latest US data, Emily ranked #18 for girls. It has held remarkably steady over the past decade — a dependable classic.

In 2023, 6,172 US girls were given the name Emily.

US popularity rank over time

Peaked at #1 in 1998

1993
#5
1998
#1
2003
#1
2008
#3
2013
#7
2018
#12
2023
#18
2024
#25

“Unranked” means Emily was outside the US top 1,000 that year.

See more girl names starting with E.

How to spell Emily

Emily is spelled E-M-I-L-Y 5 letters and 3 syllables. Alternative spellings people use include Emilia, Emilie.

Variants

Emilia, Emilie

Nicknames

Em, Emmy

Emily: frequently asked questions

What does the name Emily mean?

Emily is a Latin name meaning "rival; eager". Emily comes from the Roman family name Aemilius, meaning 'rival' or 'eager, industrious'. The poet Emily Dickinson is a famous bearer.

Where does the name Emily come from?

Emily is of Latin origin. Emily comes from the Roman family name Aemilius, meaning 'rival' or 'eager, industrious'. The poet Emily Dickinson is a famous bearer.

Is Emily a boy or a girl name?

Emily is most commonly a girl's name.

How many babies are named Emily?

In 2023, 6,172 US girls were given the name Emily.

Is Emily a popular name, and is it rising or falling?

In the latest US data, Emily ranked #18 for girls. It has held remarkably steady over the past decade — a dependable classic.

What are common nicknames for Emily?

Common nicknames for Emily include Em, Emmy.

How do you spell Emily?

Emily is spelled E-M-I-L-Y. Related spellings include Emilia, Emilie.

What is Emily short for?

Emily is often used as a short form of Emilia or Emilie, though it is also given as a full name in its own right.

How common is the name Emily?

In 2023, 6,172 US girls were given the name Emily. In the latest US data, Emily ranked #18 for girls. It has held remarkably steady over the past decade — a dependable classic.

Is Emily a Latin name?

Yes — Emily is a Latin name meaning "rival; eager". Emily comes from the Roman family name Aemilius, meaning 'rival' or 'eager, industrious'. The poet Emily Dickinson is a famous bearer. You may also see it described as Roman, which refer to the same root.

What does Emily mean in Latin?

In Latin, Emily means "rival; eager". Emily comes from the Roman family name Aemilius, meaning 'rival' or 'eager, industrious'. The poet Emily Dickinson is a famous bearer.

Is Emily a Roman name?

Emily is usually classified as Latin, and Roman belongs to that same tradition — so yes, it is commonly described as Roman too. It means "rival; eager".

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