Emily Name Meaning, Origin and Popularity
Emily is predominantly used for girls. The statistics below show this exact spelling in official U.S. records.
How Do You Spell Emily?
Emily is spelled E-M-I-L-Y. The name has 5 letters.
Emily at a Glance
- Usage
- Predominantly used for girls
- Meaning
- Emily is derived from the Latin name Aemilia, which is related to the Latin word “aemulus” meaning “rival” or “emulating.”
- Origin
- Emily is commonly associated with the Latin family name Aemilius, reflecting its classical roots in Roman naming traditions.
- Pronunciation
- EM-uh-lee · 3 syllables
Emily Popularity in 2025
Rank#34
Recorded Births5,451
Rank#7,679
Recorded Births10
- Girls usage fell 9 places to #34 and recorded 533 fewer births compared with 2024.
- Boys usage rose 86 places to #7,679 and recorded the same number of 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 Emily Mean?
Emily is derived from the Latin name Aemilia, which is related to the Latin word “aemulus” meaning “rival” or “emulating.”
Origin: Emily is commonly associated with the Latin family name Aemilius, reflecting its classical roots in Roman naming traditions.
How Do You Pronounce Emily?
PronunciationEM-uh-lee
Syllables3
What Is the History of the Name Emily?
- History
- The name Emily has been used in English-speaking countries since at least the Middle Ages and became especially popular in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Emily Popularity by Year
The table below shows the most recent available records for this exact spelling from 2013 through 2025. Use the full history page to explore every recorded year.
| Year | Usage Category | Recorded Births | National Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Girls | 5,451 | #34 |
| 2025 | Boys | 10 | #7,679 |
| 2024 | Girls | 5,984 | #25 |
| 2024 | Boys | 10 | #7,765 |
| 2023 | Girls | 6,177 | #19 |
| 2023 | Boys | 9 | #8,255 |
| 2022 | Girls | 6,498 | #17 |
| 2021 | Girls | 6,594 | #21 |
| 2021 | Boys | 6 | #10,799 |
| 2020 | Girls | 6,918 | #18 |
| 2020 | Boys | 11 | #7,034 |
| 2019 | Girls | 8,259 | #12 |
| 2019 | Boys | 8 | #8,889 |
| 2018 | Girls | 8,718 | #12 |
| 2018 | Boys | 11 | #7,136 |
| 2017 | Girls | 9,817 | #12 |
| 2017 | Boys | 5 | #12,246 |
| 2016 | Girls | 11,006 | #9 |
| 2016 | Boys | 7 | #9,664 |
| 2015 | Girls | 11,808 | #8 |
| 2015 | Boys | 17 | #5,289 |
| 2014 | Girls | 12,670 | #7 |
| 2014 | Boys | 11 | #7,048 |
| 2013 | Girls | 13,144 | #7 |
When Was Emily 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.
1999 · Girls
26,542 recorded births
National rank #1
1998 · Girls
26,188 recorded births
National rank #1
2000 · Girls
25,959 recorded births
National rank #1
1997 · Girls
25,734 recorded births
National rank #1
Where Emily 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 |
|---|---|---|
| CA | #16 | 910 |
| FL | #18 | 447 |
| NJ | #18 | 206 |
| TX | #21 | 687 |
| WA | #23 | 147 |
| AZ | #23 | 142 |
| SC | #23 | 90 |
| NM | #26 | 28 |