Emil
Gender: Boy
Meaning: Rival; industrious; eager
Origin: Latin Aemilia, from the Roman family name Aemilius — possibly from aemulus (rival)
Popularity: Ranked #1269 in 2025 with 155 babies born.
History: Emil peaked in the 1920s and is reviving. Astrid Lindgren's Emil is beloved in world children's literature. Emil represents the European literary tradition entering American naming.
Similar names: emila, emilee, emili, emilie, emillie, emilly, emily, emmily
Name length: 4 letters
How common is Emil? About 1 in 21,474 babies born in 2025 were named Emil, or roughly 0.4 per day in the United States.
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Frequently asked about Emil
What does the name Emil mean?
Emil means “Rival; industrious; eager” from Latin Aemilia, from the Roman family name Aemilius — possibly from aemulus (rival) roots.
What is the origin of the name Emil?
Emil has Latin Aemilia, from the Roman family name Aemilius — possibly from aemulus (rival) origin. The traditional meaning is “Rival; industrious; eager”.
How popular is Emil?
Emil ranked #1267 in 2025 — given to 155 babies that year.
When was Emil most popular?
Emil peaked in 1917 with 1,004 babies registered that year.
Is Emil a boy or girl name?
Emil is predominantly a boys' name — over 90% of Emils in registered births are male.
Is the name Emil rising or falling in popularity?
Emil has fallen 34 spots in the rankings over the last 5 years — from #1233 in 2020 to #1267 in 2025.
How long has Emil been recorded?
Emil appears in birth records across 146 years — from 1880 through 2025.