Emil Boy

Popularity: #783 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: eh-MEEL /ɛˈmiːl/

Origin: Latin; Germanic

Meaning: Latin: rival; Germanic: industrious

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Emil has its roots in the Latin name Aemilius, which is derived from the Latin word "aemulus," meaning "rival" or "eager." The name Aemilius was borne by a prominent Roman family, the gens Aemilia, which was influential in Roman history. As the Roman Empire expanded, the name evolved and was adapted into various languages, including Old French as "Emile" and later into the Germanic form "Emil." The transition into English occurred primarily through the influence of French and German culture during the medieval period, particularly in the 19th century when the name gained popularity in various European countries.

Historically, the name Emil has been associated with notable figures, such as Emil von Behring, a German physiologist who won the first Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1901 for his work on serum therapy. Additionally, the name appears in literary contexts, notably in the works of French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau, whose novel "Emile, or On Education" (1762) explores themes of education and personal development, further embedding the name in cultural discourse.

Culturally, Emil has been associated with qualities such as ambition and competitiveness, reflecting its etymological roots. The name has also been linked to various saints and historical figures throughout Europe, contributing to its enduring presence in different cultures.

In some contexts, diminutive forms such as "Emi" or "Em" have emerged, although these are less formal and often used in familial or affectionate settings. Overall, Emil's historical significance and linguistic evolution illustrate its deep roots in European history and culture.

Famous people named Emil

In this section, you will find notable people named Emil. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Emil who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Emil who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Emil Cioran is a philosopher and essayist best known for On the Heights of Despair, The Trouble with Being Born, and A Short History of Decay.

Emil Jannings is an actor best known for The Last Laugh, The Blue Angel, and The Way of All Flesh.

Emil Fischer is a chemist best known for his work on sugars and purines, and for winning the Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

Emil Zatopek is an athlete best known for winning three gold medals at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics and for his unique training methods.

Fictional characters named Emil

The following list of fictional characters named Emil is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Emil is a fictional character from the video game series Ni no Kuni. He is a loyal friend and companion to the protagonist, Oliver, as they embark on a quest to save their worlds.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Emil, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

EliasEmeryEthanEvanEllaEmma

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Emil. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

AmilArielNikolaiSamuelGabrielDanielJulianMilo

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Emil was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Emil has ranked as high as #327 nationally, which occurred in 1917, and has been most popular in New York, Illinois, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and California.

In the past 5 years the name Emil has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Emil is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Emil was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Emil.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 155 155 0
2024 159 159 0
2023 187 187 0
2022 188 188 0
2021 152 152 0
2020 152 152 0
2019 155 155 0
2018 129 129 0
2017 144 144 0
2016 125 125 0
2015 127 127 0
2014 120 120 0
2013 115 115 0
2012 114 114 0
2011 106 106 0
2010 106 106 0
2009 147 147 0
2008 134 134 0
2007 113 113 0
2006 101 101 0
2005 92 92 0
2004 79 79 0
2003 86 86 0
2002 97 97 0
2001 109 109 0
2000 89 89 0
1999 99 99 0
1998 69 69 0
1997 63 63 0
1996 73 73 0
1995 90 90 0
1994 95 95 0
1993 71 71 0
1992 104 104 0
1991 91 91 0
1990 82 82 0
1989 76 76 0
1988 73 73 0
1987 89 89 0
1986 63 63 0
1985 79 79 0
1984 84 84 0
1983 98 98 0
1982 82 82 0
1981 77 77 0
1980 89 89 0
1979 94 94 0
1978 89 89 0
1977 82 82 0
1976 89 89 0
1975 98 98 0
1974 92 92 0
1973 102 102 0
1972 92 92 0
1971 101 101 0
1970 124 124 0
1969 109 109 0
1968 97 97 0
1967 102 102 0
1966 99 99 0
1965 146 146 0
1964 132 132 0
1963 125 125 0
1962 147 147 0
1961 148 148 0
1960 166 161 5
1959 161 161 0
1958 170 170 0
1957 188 188 0
1956 173 173 0
1955 179 179 0
1954 179 179 0
1953 184 184 0
1952 205 205 0
1951 215 215 0
1950 207 207 0
1949 217 217 0
1948 251 251 0
1947 258 258 0
1946 246 246 0
1945 223 223 0
1944 222 222 0
1943 262 262 0
1942 259 259 0
1941 297 297 0
1940 263 263 0
1939 275 275 0
1938 327 322 5
1937 275 275 0
1936 273 273 0
1935 325 320 5
1934 335 335 0
1933 370 370 0
1932 392 392 0
1931 454 447 7
1930 514 509 5
1929 505 498 7
1928 589 582 7
1927 627 620 7
1926 688 682 6
1925 730 722 8
1924 796 790 6
1923 804 798 6
1922 830 824 6
1921 827 819 8
1920 842 835 7
1919 854 847 7
1918 912 912 0
1917 1,012 1,004 8
1916 970 970 0
1915 926 918 8
1914 689 684 5
1913 557 551 6
1912 407 407 0
1911 214 214 0
1910 194 194 0
1909 153 153 0
1908 141 141 0
1907 150 150 0
1906 139 139 0
1905 122 122 0
1904 101 101 0
1903 128 128 0
1902 136 136 0
1901 122 122 0
1900 127 127 0
1899 128 128 0
1898 158 158 0
1897 131 131 0
1896 148 143 5
1895 136 136 0
1894 128 128 0
1893 159 159 0
1892 157 157 0
1891 133 133 0
1890 165 165 0
1889 146 146 0
1888 142 142 0
1887 146 146 0
1886 127 127 0
1885 138 138 0
1884 175 175 0
1883 139 139 0
1882 157 157 0
1881 145 145 0
1880 119 119 0

Top States for Emil (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
CA 24
24%
NY 21
21%
FL 15
15%
IL 10
10%
NJ 7
7%
TX 6
6%
WA 6
6%
MA 5
5%
PA 5
5%