Emerson
Emerson is a unisex name of English origin meaning “son of Emery, industrious ruler.” It ranked #122 in the United States in 2025. An English surname from Emery (a Germanic name meaning industrious ruler).
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how do you pronounce Emerson?
EM-er-son
where does the name Emerson come from?
Emerson is a patronymic surname, read either as the Anglo-Saxon Emars sunu, Emar's son, or as Emery's son.
It honors the philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson and has become popular as a given name for both sexes.
how popular is this name?
Emerson has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 24 years since 2002. It peaked at #122 in 2025.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #122 |
| 2024 | #151 |
| 2023 | #161 |
| 2022 | #169 |
| 2021 | #168 |
| 2020 | #155 |
| 2019 | #152 |
| 2018 | #143 |
| 2017 | #150 |
| 2016 | #161 |
| 2010 | #316 |
| 2002 | #832 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Emerson fell outside the top 1,000.
the history of Emerson
As a given name it is a transferred use of the surname for both boys and girls; Emersyn is a regular variant spelling, used mainly for girls.
who are famous people named Emerson?
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
- Emerson Lake & Palmer (band)
what are the nicknames and variants of Emerson?
Nicknames
Variants around the world
what names are similar to Emerson?
what names go well with Emerson?
Sibling names that share Emerson's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Emerson
What does the name Emerson mean?
Emerson means “son of Emery, industrious ruler”.
What is the origin of the name Emerson?
Emerson comes from the English naming tradition. Related forms include Emersyn and Emmerson.
How popular is the name Emerson?
Emerson ranked #122 in the US in 2025, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 2025, at #122, and it has spent 24 years in the top 1,000 since 2002.
Is Emerson a boy or girl name?
Emerson is a unisex name, used for both boys and girls.
How do you pronounce Emerson?
Emerson is pronounced EM-er-son, with 3 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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