Emma
Emma is a girl's name of Germanic origin.
Meaning
Whole, universal, or complete.
Origin and history
Emma is a classic female name derived from the Germanic element 'ermen', meaning whole or universal. Originally introduced to Britain by Emma of Normandy in the eleventh century, it has experienced massive popularity in the United States, ranking among the top girl names for decades.
Popularity in the United States
776,439 babies in the United States have been named Emma since 1880. It ranks #28 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #2.
States where it is most popular
- CA (9 %)
- TX (8.6 %)
- NY (5.5 %)
- PA (5 %)
- FL (4.3 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 25,404 |
| 1890-1900 | 28,652 |
| 1900-1910 | 24,176 |
| 1910-1920 | 41,819 |
| 1920-1930 | 46,538 |
| 1930-1940 | 30,022 |
| 1940-1950 | 22,788 |
| 1950-1960 | 14,613 |
| 1960-1970 | 6,993 |
| 1970-1980 | 4,665 |
| 1980-1990 | 10,381 |
| 1990-2000 | 58,252 |
| 2000-2010 | 181,414 |
| 2010-2019 | 195,070 |
| 2020-2029 | 85,652 |
Famous people named Emma
- Emma Watson: Actress, Activist
- Emma Stone: Actress
- Emma Thompson: Actress, Screenwriter
Nicknames
Em, Emmie, Emmy
Fun facts
- Emma of Normandy became Queen of England, Denmark, and Norway through her marriages in the 11th century.
- Jane Austen featured the name in her famous 1815 novel 'Emma', cementing its enduring literary charm.
- Emma has consistently held one of the top spots for female newborns in the US throughout the 21st century.