Emma
Gender: Girl
Meaning: Whole, universal; all-embracing
Origin: Old Germanic Ermen or Irmin — meaning universal or whole
Popularity: Ranked #3 in 2025 with 12,754 babies born.
History: Emma has medieval roots as a Germanic royal name — it was borne by a queen consort of England in the 11th century. Jane Austen brought it lasting literary prestige with her 1815 novel Emma. The name was hugely popular in the late 1800s, faded in the 1950s–70s, then came surging back in the 1990s. It sat at #1 in the U.S. from 2014 to 2018. Its pure, two-syllable simplicity and universal recognizability give it timeless staying power.
Famous people named Emma: Emma Watson (actress), Emma Stone (actress), Emma Thompson (actress), Emma Roberts (actress)
Name length: 4 letters
How common is Emma? About 1 in 261 babies born in 2025 were named Emma, or roughly 35 per day in the United States.
Explore more baby names at BabyNa.me — 29,000+ names with meanings, origins, and popularity trends.
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Frequently asked about Emma
What does the name Emma mean?
Emma means “Whole, universal; all-embracing” from Old Germanic Ermen or Irmin — meaning universal or whole roots.
What is the origin of the name Emma?
Emma has Old Germanic Ermen or Irmin — meaning universal or whole origin. The traditional meaning is “Whole, universal; all-embracing”.
How popular is Emma?
Emma ranked #3 in 2025 — given to 12,754 babies that year.
When was Emma most popular?
Emma peaked in 2003 with 22,719 babies registered that year.
Is Emma a boy or girl name?
Emma is predominantly a girls' name — over 90% of Emmas in registered births are female.
How long has Emma been recorded?
Emma appears in birth records across 146 years — from 1880 through 2025.