Rising since 2020, #8,362 for girls today.
Popularity of Emmily since 1976
Babies named Emmily per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2008, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Emmily's real moment was 2002.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1970s | 18 |
| 1980s | 102 |
| 1990s | 226 |
| 2000s | 348 |
| 2010s | 206 |
| 2020s | 73 |
Meaning & origin
Emmily is a modern respelling of Emily that emerged in the 1970s, first recorded in 1976. It peaked in 2002 at rank 8,362, a year that saw 1 in 133,939 newborns named Emmily. The name has been rising in popularity since 2020, recovering from a lull in the 2010s. California led as the top state for Emmily, reflecting broader trends in creative name spellings. Though less common than the standard Emily, Emmily offers a distinct alternative within the same phonetic family.
Emmily is a respelling of Emily, which derives from the Latin name Aemilia, meaning 'rival.' The -ly ending aligns it with other trendy feminine names of the late 20th century, such as Kaitlyn and Madisyn. Its first recorded use in the U.S. was in 1976, reflecting the era's preference for unique spellings.
Where Emmily is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Em, Emmy, Millie
Sibling names for Emmily
Names that share Emmily's style, for a brother or sister.
