Emma
Emma is a girls' name of German origin meaning “whole, universal.” It ranked #3 in the United States in 2025. Emma derives from the Germanic element 'ermen' meaning 'whole' or 'universal.'
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how do you pronounce Emma?
EM-ah
where does the name Emma come from?
From the Germanic element ermen or irmin, meaning whole, entire or universal. Emma began as a short form of longer compounds such as Ermintrude and Irmgard rather than as a name in its own right, and the shortened form eventually displaced the originals entirely.
Jane Austen's 'Emma' helped establish it as a classic, and it has dominated US baby name charts for over two decades, reaching number one.
how popular is this name?
Emma has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 146 years since 1880. It peaked at #1 in 2008, and ranked #3 in 2025.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #3 |
| 2024 | #2 |
| 2023 | #2 |
| 2022 | #2 |
| 2021 | #2 |
| 2020 | #2 |
| 2019 | #2 |
| 2018 | #1 |
| 2017 | #1 |
| 2016 | #1 |
| 2010 | #3 |
| 2008 | #1 |
| 2000 | #17 |
| 1990 | #130 |
| 1980 | #416 |
| 1970 | #421 |
| 1960 | #297 |
| 1950 | #154 |
| 1940 | #94 |
| 1930 | #73 |
| 1920 | #46 |
| 1910 | #34 |
| 1900 | #13 |
| 1890 | #5 |
| 1880 | #3 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Emma fell outside the top 1,000.
the history of Emma
Emma of Normandy, who died in 1052, was queen consort of England twice over — first to Æthelred the Unready and then to Cnut — and mother to two kings, which planted the name firmly in England before the Conquest. Jane Austen's 1815 novel kept it literary, and Emma topped the American charts in 2008 and again from 2014 to 2018.
who are famous people named Emma?
- Emma Watson (British actress and activist)
- Emma Stone (American actress)
- Emma Thompson (British actress)
what are the nicknames and variants of Emma?
Nicknames
Variants around the world
what names are similar to Emma?
what names go well with Emma?
Sibling names that share Emma's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Emma
What does the name Emma mean?
Emma means “whole, universal”.
What is the origin of the name Emma?
Emma comes from the German naming tradition. Related forms include Ema, Emmaline and Emme.
How popular is the name Emma?
Emma ranked #3 in the US in 2025, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 2008, at #1, and it has spent 146 years in the top 1,000 since 1880.
Is Emma a boy or girl name?
Emma is primarily a girls' name.
How do you pronounce Emma?
Emma is pronounced EM-ah, with 2 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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