Emily
Feminine variation of Emil, Latin
"rival"Share
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Updated Wed Apr 17 2024
Emily Origin and Meaning
The name Emily is a girl's name of Latin origin meaning "rival".
Emily may have dropped somewhat in the current standings, but it was the most popular girls' name for over a decade because it appeals on many levels: Emily is feminine, classic, simple, pretty, and strong. Emily is Number 1 among Gen Z names. It also has those nice literary namesakes, like Emily Dickinson and Emily Brontë.
Parents who a decade ago might have chosen Emily have moved on to Emma and now are looking at such alternatives as Amelia and Emmeline. But those girls' names, like Emma, may soon feel overused too.
Emily was derived from the Roman name Aemilia, which may have evolved from the Latin word aemulus, meaning "hardworking" or "rival." Emilia has the same Latin root as Emily, but Amelia has separate origins — it was derived from the Germanic name Amalia, meaning work. Emma is also rooted in German and means universal.
Modern Emilys in the spotlight include a number of the hottest young actresses — Emily Blunt, Emily Mortimer, Emily Deschanel — and even Emma Stone was christened Emily. And Emily is still one of the most widely used girl names starting with E, on its way to overtaking A as the most fashionable first initial.
# 17 in the US
Emily Rank in US Top 1000
# 142 on Nameberry
Emily Rank in Nameberry Top 1000
Emily Popularity
- 17US2022
- 142Nameberry2024
- 19England2021
- 4Scotland2023
- 3Ireland2023
- 41Australia2022
- 30New Zealand2023
- 19Germany2023
- 29Netherlands2023
- 38Italy2022
- 27Denmark2022
- 83Belgium2019
- 32Switzerland2022
- 38Austria2022
- 197Poland2020
- 45Israel2020
- 15Argentina2021
- 16Chile2021
- 31Canada2022
- 22Mexico2021
20 Names Similar to Emily
These 20 names were selected by our users that were looking for other names like Emily.
Anna Emma Elizabeth Abigail Hannah Alexandra Anne Isabella Kate Rebecca Katherine Claire Catherine Ella Julia Caroline Grace Emilia Chloe Alice
Famous People Named Emily
- Emily Jane BronteEnglish novelist
- Emily Elizabeth DickinsonAmerican poet
- Emily PostAmerican author and etiquette guru
- Emily Margaret WatsonEnglish actress
- Emily Jordan OsmentAmerican actress
- Emily Olivia Leah BluntEnglish actress
- Emily Greene BalchAmerican economist, sociologist, and pacifist
- Emily Jean "Emma" StoneAmerican actress
- EmilyMay Stephenson, English actress
- Emily Rebecca KinneyAmerican actress and singer
- Emily CarrCanadian painter
- Emily St. John MandelCanadian author
- Emily Lau (Waihing), Hong Kong politician
- Emily West (born Emily Marie Nemmers)American singer
- Emily Erin DeschanelAmerican actress
- Emily Kathleen Anne MortimerEnglish actress and screenwriter
- Emily Irene VanCampCanadian actress
- Emily HainesCanadian,American singer,songwriter
- Emily Robison (born Emily Burns Erwin)American singer,songwriter
- Emily SaliersAmerican singer,songwriter
- Emily Anne HughesAmerican figure skater
- Emily SmithScottish folk singer
- Emily Ann SonnettAmerican soccer player
- Emily Nicole BoydAmerican soccer player
- Emily Townsend MengesAmerican soccer player
- Emily Bett RickardsCanadian actress
- Emily Louise Van EgmondAustralian soccer player
- Emily Jane ZurrerCanadian soccer player
- Emily Sofia Alvarado NatividadMexican American football player
- Emily RatajkowskiAmerican model and actress
- Emily Palmer Marshallcharacter on ZOOM
- Emily Beth Stern (b. 1983)daughter of radio/TV personality Howard Stern
- Emily Clarkson (b. 1995)daughter of TV presenter Jeremy Clarkson
- Emily Cunliffe (b. 1998)daughter of TV personality Kym Marsh of "Loose Women"
- Emily Grace Stanley (b. 2011)daughter of American musician Paul Stanley
- Emily Dale Griffin (b. 2017)daughter of actress Sutton Foster and Ted Griffin
- Emily Sears (b. 1985) Beautiful Australian Model
- Emily Agnes (b. 1991) British model who was the Playboy Playmate of the Month for July 2014
Emily in Pop Culture
- Emilycharacter in novel "The One Apart" by author Justine Avery
- Lady Emily Ashtonmain character of the Lady Emily mysteries by Tasha Alexander
- Emilymain character in novelette "The Post,it Note Affair" by author Justine Avery
- Emily Barhamcharacter in novel and 1964 film "The Americanization of Emily"
- Emily Bartletttitle character in Beverly Cleary's "Emily's Runaway Imagination"
- Emily Bishopcharacter on British soap "Coronation Street"
- Emily Byrd Starrmain character in L.M. Montgomery's Emily of New Moon series
- Emily Duffcharacter in animated series "Tiny Toon Adventures"
- Emily Elizabethcharacter in the Clifford the Big Red Dog series
- Emily Eyefingerchildren's book series by Duncan Ball and Craig Smith
- Emily Fieldscharacter on TV's "Pretty Little Liars"
- Emily Bennettcharacter on TV's "The Vampire Diaries"
- Emily Bennettcharacter in the Molly: An American Girl book series and movie
- Emily Fitchcharacter on TV's "Skins"
- Emily Fostermain character in 1976 film "Emily"
- Emily Franciscocharacter on TV's "Alien Nation"
- Emily GilmoreLorelai Gilmore's mother on TV's "Gilmore Girls"
- Emily Griersonmain character in William Faulkner's "A Rose for Emily"
- Emily Wheiler 'Neferet'main antagonist of the House of Night series (PC Cast)
- Emily Hartwoodcharacter in video game series Alone in the Dark
- Emily Kirkcharacter on British soap "Emmerdale"
- Emily Lightmancharacter on TV's "Lie to Me"
- Emily Lockemain character on TV's "Powerless"
- Emily Pollifaxmain character in mystery novels by Dorothy Gilman
- Emily Prentisscharacter on TV's "Criminal Minds"
- Emily Rappaportcharacter in J.K. Rowling's "History of Magic in North America"
- Emily Shelbycharacter in Harriet Beecher Stowe's "Uncle Tom's Cabin'
- Emily the Strangecartoon and merchandising character
- Emily Thornemain character on TV's "Revenge," played by Emily VanCamp
- Emily Weavercharacter in film "Crazy, Stupid, Love"
- Emily Windsnapmain character in a series of novels by Liz Kessler
- Emily Wyattcharacter in the video game Deadly Premonition
- Emily Youngcharacter in The Twilight Saga
- Emilycharacter in animated film "The Corpse Bride"
- Emilycharacter in the comic strip Peanuts
- Emilycharacter on TV's "Power Rangers Samurai"
- Emilysteam locomotive on animated series "Thomas & Friends"
- "Emily" French animated series and its main character
- Emily "Em"character in video game "Until Dawn"
- Emily Drexel Lela Kaldwincharacter in "Dishonored" video game series
- Emily Rosecharacter in "The Exorcism of Emily Rose"
- Emily "Em" Galecharacter in "The Wizard of Oz"
- Emilythe wife in Definitely, Maybe
- Emily Bennettan American Girl Doll who is Molly Mcintire's best friend
- Emilya character in the TV show "The Next Step"
- Miss Emily Baldwincharacter in "The Waltons"
- Emily Agrestecharacter in "Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir"
- Emily Sweeneycharacter in TV series "The Big Bang Theory"
- Emily Boschcharacter, Captain in the upcoming series "Star Trek: Picard"
- Emily Birdycharacter in the World of Webkinz
- Emily WalthamRoss’ ex,wife in FRIENDS
- Emily Walkercharacter on TV's "Walker"
- "Emily"song by Joanna Newsom