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Emily Girl

Popularity: #25 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Origin(s)

PronunciationEM-uh-lee / ˈɛm.ɪ.li

Latin; Old French; English

Meaning

Latin: rival; industrious; striving

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Emily has its roots in the Latin name Aemilia, which is derived from the word "aemulus," meaning "rival" or "eager." Aemilia was the feminine form of the Roman family name Aemilius, which was prominent in ancient Rome. The name transitioned into Old French as Émilie before being adopted into Middle English as Emily during the medieval period, particularly gaining traction in the 12th century. This linguistic evolution reflects the broader influence of Latin on the development of European languages following the fall of the Roman Empire.

Historically, the name Emily has been associated with various notable figures and literary works. One significant milestone is its appearance in the 18th century through the character of Emily St. Aubert in Ann Radcliffe's Gothic novel "The Mysteries of Udolpho" (1794). This character helped to popularize the name in literary circles. Additionally, the name was borne by several saints, including Saint Emily, the mother of Saint Augustine, who lived in the 4th century. These historical associations contributed to the name's enduring presence in various cultures.

Culturally, Emily has been linked to themes of aspiration and rivalry, reflecting its etymological roots. The name has been embraced in various artistic and literary contexts, symbolizing strength and resilience. In addition to its full form, diminutive variations such as Em or Emmy have emerged, often used affectionately. The name's rich historical background and its connections to significant cultural narratives have solidified its place in the lexicon of names across generations.

Trend Summary

Emily has been a consistently popular name in the United States, frequently appearing in the top 10 names for girls over the past few decades.

Similar Names

Variants

  • Emilie
  • Emely

International Variants

  • Emilie (French)
  • Emilia (Italian)
  • Emilia (Spanish)
  • Emilia (Polish)

Famous people named Emily

Emily Blunt is an actress best known for The Devil Wears Prada, A Quiet Place, and Mary Poppins Returns.

Emily Dickinson is a poet best known for her innovative and introspective poetry.

Emily Ratajkowski is a model and actress best known for her role in Gone Girl and her advocacy for women's rights.

Emily Deschanel is an actress best known for her role in Bones and her work in various television series and films.

Emily Mortimer is an actress and filmmaker best known for her roles in Notting Hill, The Newsroom, and Mary Poppins Returns.

Emily VanCamp is an actress best known for her roles in Revenge and The Resident.

Emily Browning is an actress best known for her roles in Sucker Punch, The Uninvited, and Sleeping Beauty.

Emily Osment is an actress and singer best known for her role in Hannah Montana and her music career.

Emily Kinney is an actress and singer best known for her role in The Walking Dead and her music albums.

Emily Procter is an actress best known for her roles in CSI: Miami and The West Wing.

Emily Saliers is a musician best known as a member of the Indigo Girls.

Emily Weiss is a businesswoman best known for founding the beauty brand Glossier.

Fictional characters named Emily

Emily is a fictional character from the novel and film Emily of New Moon. She is an imaginative and determined young girl who aspires to be a writer while navigating the challenges of her upbringing.

Emily is a fictional character from the animated series The Magic School Bus. She is a curious and enthusiastic student who participates in Ms. Frizzle's adventurous field trips.

Emily is a fictional character from the video game series Fallout. She is a key character in the storyline of Fallout 3, providing important information and guidance to the player.

Sibling Suggestions

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Emily was first seen in the United States in 1880. Emily has ranked as high as #5 nationally, which occurred in 1999, and has been most popular in California, Texas, New York, Pennsylvania, and Illinois. In the past 5 years the name Emily has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

Top States for Emily (2024)

StateBirthsShare
CA 979
17%
TX 768
13%
FL 483
8%
NY 354
6%
IL 231
4%
NJ 196
3%
PA 190
3%
GA 173
3%
NC 159
3%
WA 154
3%
TN 153
3%
OH 137
2%
VA 133
2%
AZ 128
2%
MA 125
2%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

YearBirths
1880210
1881244
1882272
1883342
1884364
1885346
1886369
1887335
1888457
1889429
1890509
1891444
1892518
1893506
1894551
1895605
1896527
1897619
1898628
1899569
1900626
1901537
1902606
1903558
1904599
1905683
1906619
1907714
1908732
1909749
1910785
1911909
19121,147
19131,386
19141,650
19152,091
19162,213
19172,220
19182,361
19192,307
19202,168
19212,184
19222,146
19232,057
19242,044
19251,767
19261,729
19271,656
19281,559
19291,444
19301,344
19311,186
19321,147
19331,062
19341,067
19351,094
19361,123
19371,293
19381,308
19391,292
19401,269
19411,368
19421,419
19431,336
19441,251
19451,134
19461,379
19471,470
19481,391
19491,392
19501,316
19511,287
19521,392
19531,325
19541,342
19551,303
19561,282
19571,207
19581,172
19591,214
19601,226
19611,146
19621,079
19631,108
19641,131
19651,288
19661,249
19671,205
19681,326
19691,576
19701,931
19711,866
19722,334
19733,027
19744,330
19755,483
19765,549
19776,879
19787,473
19797,971
19809,002
198110,799
198212,521
198312,377
198412,786
198513,143
198613,236
198714,711
198815,871
198917,324
199019,368
199120,311
199221,834
199323,596
199424,153
199524,383
199625,150
199725,735
199826,188
199926,542
200025,959
200125,059
200224,469
200325,693
200425,041
200523,950
200621,411
200719,366
200817,445
200915,362
201014,281
201114,277
201213,664
201313,142
201412,667
201511,806
201611,004
20179,813
20188,716
20198,256
20206,914
20216,591
20226,495
20236,172
20245,955