Declining since 2020, #2,298 for girls today.
Popularity of Empress since 1986
Babies named Empress per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1980s | 10 |
| 1990s | 109 |
| 2000s | 230 |
| 2010s | 734 |
| 2020s | 670 |
Meaning & origin
Empress is an English word name that entered the U.S. naming pool in 1986, reflecting a broader trend of using honorifics and titles as given names. It reached its peak popularity in 2019, and has since declined, with a trajectory showing a falling pattern from 2020 onward. In 2025, it ranked 2298, with approximately 1 in 20345 newborn girls receiving the name. The name is most commonly chosen in Georgia, Florida, and Virginia. Its use as a name is a purely modern innovation, with no historical precedent as a personal name before the late 20th century. Unlike names with ancient roots, Empress carries immediate symbolic weight, evoking power and sovereignty. Parents who choose it often pair it with sibling names of similar status, such as King, Legend, or Royal. The name remains relatively rare but has carved out a niche within contemporary American naming fashion.
Empress derives directly from the English word for a female emperor, itself from Latin imperatrix. It has been used as a given name in the United States since at least 1986, reflecting a modern trend of adopting titles and virtue words as personal names. Its use as a name carries connotations of power and authority.
Where Empress is most popular
Births per 100,000 girls by state, 2025. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Em, Empy, Pressa
Sibling names for Empress
Names that share Empress's style, for a brother or sister.
