Emerson Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Emerson is used for both girls and boys. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Emerson?
Emerson is spelled E-M-E-R-S-O-N. The name has 7 letters.
Emerson at a Glance
- Usage
- Used for both girls and boys
- Meaning
- Emerson means “son of Emery” or “son of Emmerich,” deriving from Old Germanic elements meaning “work” and “ruler” or “power.”
- Origin
- Emerson is a surname-derived given name that traces back to Old Germanic roots through Emery or Emmerich and is used in English-speaking countries.
- Pronunciation
- EM-er-sun · 3 syllables
Emerson Popularity in 2025
Rank#122
Recorded Births2,241
Rank#254
Recorded Births1,371
- Girls usage rose 29 places to #122 and recorded 270 more births compared with 2024.
- Boys usage rose 16 places to #254 and recorded 95 more births compared with 2024.
Figures reflect this exact spelling in the latest available U.S. Social Security Administration records. See the complete year-by-year trend.
What Does the Name Emerson Mean?
Emerson means “son of Emery” or “son of Emmerich,” deriving from Old Germanic elements meaning “work” and “ruler” or “power.”
Origin: Emerson is a surname-derived given name that traces back to Old Germanic roots through Emery or Emmerich and is used in English-speaking countries.
How Do You Pronounce Emerson?
PronunciationEM-er-sun
Syllables3
What Is the History of the Name Emerson?
- History
- Emerson began as an English surname indicating “son of Emery” or “Emmerich” and later transitioned into use as a given name.
Emerson Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2014 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 2,241 | #122 |
| 2025 | Boys | 1,371 | #254 |
| 2024 | Girls | 1,971 | #151 |
| 2024 | Boys | 1,276 | #270 |
| 2023 | Girls | 1,774 | #161 |
| 2023 | Boys | 1,261 | #268 |
| 2022 | Girls | 1,724 | #169 |
| 2022 | Boys | 1,269 | #274 |
| 2021 | Girls | 1,743 | #168 |
| 2021 | Boys | 1,239 | #277 |
| 2020 | Girls | 1,793 | #155 |
| 2020 | Boys | 1,276 | #268 |
| 2019 | Girls | 1,865 | #152 |
| 2019 | Boys | 1,344 | #269 |
| 2018 | Girls | 1,948 | #143 |
| 2018 | Boys | 1,242 | #284 |
| 2017 | Girls | 1,978 | #150 |
| 2017 | Boys | 1,322 | #276 |
| 2016 | Girls | 1,962 | #161 |
| 2016 | Boys | 1,226 | #295 |
| 2015 | Girls | 1,798 | #180 |
| 2015 | Boys | 1,203 | #300 |
| 2014 | Girls | 1,683 | #196 |
| 2014 | Boys | 1,056 | #324 |
When Was Emerson Most Popular?
Peak years are based on the highest recorded birth totals for this exact spelling and usage category. They are ordered by birth count, not chronologically.
2025 · Girls
2,241 recorded births
National rank #122
2017 · Girls
1,978 recorded births
National rank #150
2024 · Girls
1,971 recorded births
National rank #151
2016 · Girls
1,962 recorded births
National rank #161
Where Emerson Ranked Highest in 2025
State rankings are calculated separately for girls and boys within each state. The SSA omits state-level names recorded fewer than five times, so low visible counts can still represent a relatively high state rank.
Top States for Girls
| State | Rank | Recorded Births |
|---|---|---|
| NH | #45 | 21 |
| SC | #46 | 71 |
| ME | #57 | 15 |
| GA | #71 | 112 |
| NC | #73 | 122 |
| TN | #76 | 84 |
| NE | #78 | 24 |
| MA | #80 | 67 |