Girl name · Latin
Emily
Name meaning, origin and popularity
: rival, striving to equalEmily is a girl's name that comes from Latin and means "rival, striving to equal". It is used in English, Irish, Scottish and German.
- Meaning
- Rival, striving to equal
- Origin
- Latin
- Gender
- Girl
- US rank
- #34 in 2025
Meaning and origin of Emily
As a girl's name, Emily comes from Latin and means "rival, striving to equal". It is used in English, Irish, Scottish and German.
Meanings come from published name dictionaries, led by Behind the Name. How we research names
How popular is Emily?
- US rank in 2025
- #34
- 5,451 babies, 3,391 per million girls
- Best rank
- #1 in 1996
- Most babies: 26,542 in 1999
- Babies since 1880
- At least 896,487
- Years with under 5 are not listed
| 1880s | 2,566 per million |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 2,465 per million |
| 1900s | 2,194 per million |
| 1910s | 2,093 per million |
| 1920s | 1,569 per million |
| 1930s | 1,118 per million |
| 1940s | 926 per million |
| 1950s | 668 per million |
| 1960s | 675 per million |
| 1970s | 3,031 per million |
| 1980s | 7,672 per million |
| 1990s | 13,177 per million |
| 2000s | 12,111 per million |
| 2010s | 6,722 per million |
| 2020s | 3,867 per million |
| Year | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #9 | #12 | #12 | #12 | #18 | #21 | #17 | #19 | #25 | #34 |
Source: US Social Security Administration baby-name data, 1880 to 2025, as published in 2026. Each spelling is counted separately, a name given to fewer than 5 babies of one sex in a year is left out, and few people born before 1937 have records, which is why the chart shows babies per million rather than raw counts.
Nicknames for Emily
Established short forms and pet names, not made-up ones.
- Emcommon English nickname
- Emmycommon English nickname
- Milliecommon English nickname
Other forms of Emily
The same name in other languages and spellings, with the same meaning and origin.
- EmiliaRival, striving to equal (Latin, girl)
- ÉmilieRival, striving to equal (Latin, girl)
Names spelled like Emily
One or two letters apart, but from a different root: they look alike without sharing a meaning.
- EmmyWhole, universal (Germanic, girl)
- EimíleFrom the Roman family name Aemilius (Latin, girl)
- EmelWish, aspiration (Arabic, girl)
- EmeryNorman form of Emmerich, whose second part means ruler (Germanic, unisex)
- EmiSmile; blessed beauty (depends on characters) (Japanese, girl)
- EmikoBlessed beautiful child (depends on characters) (Japanese, girl)
- EmineTrustworthy, faithful (Arabic, girl)
Names with a similar meaning
Middle names for Emily
Picked from our middle-name lists with a different first letter and a longer length, so the full name flows.
More girl names from Latin
- LauraLaurel tree (Latin, girl)
- OliviaOlive tree (Latin, girl)
- CarinaDear, beloved (Latin, girl)
- FloraFlower, blossom (Latin, girl)
- MarinaOf the sea (Latin, girl)
- ReginaQueen (Latin, girl)
- ValentinaStrong, healthy (Latin, girl)
- CelesteHeavenly, of the sky (Latin, girl)
- ClaraClear, bright (Latin, girl)
- DianaDivine, heavenly (Latin, girl)
- JulianaFeminine form of Julian, from the Roman family name Julius (Latin, girl)
- LuciaLight, brightness (Latin, girl)
- LunaThe moon (Latin, girl)
- RosaRose flower (Latin, girl)
- SabinaSabine woman (Latin, girl)
- AlmaSoul, nourishing (Latin, girl)
- AmandaWorthy of love (Latin, girl)
- AureliaGolden (Latin, girl)
Emily: common questions
What does the name Emily mean?
Emily comes from Latin and means "rival, striving to equal".
Is Emily a boy or girl name?
Emily is mainly a girl's name. In 2025, 5,451 girls and 10 boys in the US were named Emily, according to Social Security Administration data.
What are nicknames for Emily?
Common nicknames for Emily include Em, Emmy and Millie.
How popular is the name Emily?
Emily ranked #34 in the US in 2025, with 5,451 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
What are other forms of Emily?
Forms of Emily with the same meaning and origin include Emilia (English) and Émilie (French).
What middle names go with Emily?
Middle names that flow well with Emily include Aoife, Marigold, Naomi, Noelle and Ottilie. A different first letter and a contrasting length usually sound best.