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Home › Baby Names Directory › Emerald

Emerald

♀ Girl

Pronounced EM-er-uld /ˈɛm.ər.əld/High

Meaning: From the Old French esmeralde, from the Latin smaragdus, from Greek smaragdos (σμάραγδος), the name of the brilliant green gemstone; the emerald has been prized since antiquity and is associated with spring, growth, and fertilityHigh

In 30 seconds: Emerald is a vivid gemstone name that burns brightly in green — the color of spring, hope, and the Irish hills. Bold enough to feel unusual but immediately understood, it belongs to the rising family of jewel names that includes Ruby, Pearl, and Jade.
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Origin HighOld French, Latin, Greek
MeaningFrom the Old French esmeralde, from the Latin smaragdus, from Greek smaragdos (σμάραγδος), the name of the brilliant green gemstone; the emerald has been prized since antiquity and is associated with spring, growth, and fertility
U.S. rank (2025)#741 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births367 girls (0.02% of U.S. girls)
Peak year2024
Total births (all-time)≈ 9,513

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 202419042025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Emerald is the name of the brilliant green variety of beryl, one of the most prized gemstones since antiquity. Cleopatra was famously fond of emeralds and claimed ownership of Egypt's emerald mines. The name entered English use as a given name in the late 19th century when gemstone names became fashionable in the Victorian era.

Emerald has been used in the United States as a given name throughout the 20th century, though less commonly than Ruby or Pearl. It has been rising in the 2010s and 2020s as parents look for gemstone names with more grandeur and less familiarity than the standard choices.

Did you know? The Emerald Isle is one of Ireland's most enduring nicknames, given to the country for its lush green landscape. Ireland's connection to the emerald gives this gemstone name a national cultural resonance — Emerald is also, indirectly, a name for Ireland itself.
Overall data confidence 95%
Behind the Name — Emerald — etymology and usageU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

EsmeraldaEsmerelda

Nicknames

EmmiEmmyErald

Famous Bearers

  • ★Emerald Fennell (1985-)
    English actress, writer and director who won an Oscar for Promising Young Woman

If you like Emerald…

Ruby— the most popular gemstone name sharing the same colorful, precious stone identity
Jade— fellow green gemstone name with the same vivid natural mineral heritage
Pearl— shares the vintage gemstone name tradition and the same elegant feminine quality
Sapphire— parallel rare gemstone name in the same bold colorful jewel-name family

Explore names like Emerald

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Emerald mean?

Emerald is the name of the brilliant green gemstone, from Greek smaragdos through Latin and Old French. It is associated with spring, growth, and Ireland.

How do you pronounce Emerald?

Emerald is pronounced EM-er-uld /ˈɛm.ər.əld/ — three syllables with stress on the first.

Is Emerald a popular name?

Emerald is rising in the U.S. as parents seek gemstone names with more grandeur than Ruby or Pearl. It remains distinctive and uncommon.

Is Emerald related to Esmeralda?

Yes, Esmeralda is the Spanish form of the same gemstone name, from the same Latin/Greek root. They share the same meaning.

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