Emma
Emma is a boy's name of Germanic origin.
Meaning
Whole, universal, or complete.
Origin and history
Emma originates as a diminutive of Germanic names beginning with 'erm' or 'irm', meaning whole or universal. While overwhelmingly given to females, it also appears as a rare masculine name in U.S. birth records. Its usage for boys remains uncommon in contemporary naming trends.
Popularity in the United States
1,733 babies in the United States have been named Emma since 1880. It ranks #3061 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #1831.
States where it is most popular
- KY (45.1 %)
- PA (14 %)
- TX (9.1 %)
- DC (6.7 %)
- NC (6.7 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 108 |
| 1890-1900 | 111 |
| 1900-1910 | 92 |
| 1910-1920 | 144 |
| 1920-1930 | 192 |
| 1930-1940 | 208 |
| 1940-1950 | 113 |
| 1950-1960 | 44 |
| 1960-1970 | 18 |
| 1970-1980 | 16 |
| 1980-1990 | 62 |
| 1990-2000 | 70 |
| 2000-2010 | 297 |
| 2010-2019 | 162 |
| 2020-2029 | 96 |
Fun facts
- Emma originated as a short form of Germanic compound names like Ermintrude and Ermentrude.
- Although primarily feminine, Emma has consistently recorded male births in the U.S. since 1880.