Emiliano

Emiliano is an appealing Latinate version of Emil, with the same gentle sounds but additional flair. Popular in Chile and Mexico, where it ranks in the Top 20, Emiliano is also a rising name in the US.

Derived from the Roman family name Aemilius, Emiliano, like its close relations, Emily, Emilia and Emilio, means "rival" .While this may feel like a negative meaning, you could interpret "rival" as meaning to "equal or to emulate" someone — or you could even see it as a name to inspire a sense of hard work, ambition, and striving in a child.

A once obscure choice in the US, Emiliano entered the Top 1000 in the late 90s and has steadily climbed, with 2025 seeing it appear in the Top 100 for the first time. Given to 3700 babies in the US in a recent year, its -o ending and mix of strength and softness help it to appeal.

Notable namesakes include Emiliano Zapata Salazar, a leading figure in the Mexican Revolution, who helped establish modern Mexico and Emiliano Sala, an Argentine footballer.

Pronounced em-il-ee-AH-noh.

As of October 2026, Emiliano ranked #94 in US births in 2025 SSA, Nameberry popularity #410.