Declining since 2015.
Popularity of Emmalou since 1913
Babies named Emmalou per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2014, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Emmalou's real moment was 1914.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 24 |
| 1920s | 29 |
| 1930s | 26 |
| 1940s | 24 |
| 1950s | 0 |
| 1960s | 0 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 32 |
| 2010s | 97 |
| 2020s | 37 |
Meaning & origin
Emmalou is a vintage compound name that first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1913, at a time when double-barreled names like Mary Ann and Sarah Jane were fashionable. Its peak year was 1914, with a very small number of births (around 5 or fewer per year) nationwide after that, and the name never entered the top 1000. The trajectory has been falling since 2015, with fewer than 5 births per year in recent decades. Because it is so rare, no state has recorded enough Emmalous to appear in top-state data. For parents drawn to two-syllable, -lou surnames or middles, Emmalou offers a distinct, early-20th-century feel without any recent revival.
Emmalou is a compound name formed from Emma and Lou. Emma itself derives from the Germanic word 'ermen' meaning 'whole' or 'universal', while Lou is a short form of Louise, ultimately from the Germanic 'hlud' meaning 'famous' and 'wig' meaning 'war'. As a combined name, Emmalou arose in the early 20th century, likely as a double-barreled given name or affectionate portmanteau. It first appeared in U.S. birth records in 1913 and saw a brief spike in 1914, its peak year, before falling out of regular use.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Emmy, Lou, Emma
Variants: Emma Lou, Emmie Lou
Sibling names for Emmalou
Names that share Emmalou's style, for a brother or sister.
