Home › Baby Names Directory › Emerson

Emerson

♀ Girl

Emerson Pronunciation

Emerson is pronounced EM-er-sun /ˈɛm.ər.sən/High

Meaning: Son of Emery; Emery derives from Germanic Amalric meaning 'work-power' or 'brave power'High

In 30 seconds: A polished English surname name meaning 'son of Emery.' It has moved firmly into the girls' column since the 2010s, beloved for its literary association with Ralph Waldo Emerson.

💕 Browse more names

Origin HighEnglish, Germanic

MeaningSon of Emery; Emery derives from Germanic Amalric meaning 'work-power' or 'brave power'

U.S. rank (2025)#122 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births2,241 girls (0.13% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2025

Total births (all-time)≈ 34,038

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

History & Origin

Emerson is an English patronymic surname, literally 'son of Emery.' Emery itself descends from the Germanic given name Amalric (or Heimirich), composed of elements meaning 'work' and 'power.' The name entered wide use in the English-speaking world via the prominent U.S. philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson.

As a first name, Emerson was used primarily for boys through the 20th century. From roughly 2010 it began a strong shift toward girls, entering the top 200 by the early 2020s. The trend mirrors the broader appetite for literary, surname-style names for daughters.

Did you know? Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882) gave the name its intellectual halo — parents drawn to American Transcendentalism began using Emerson as a first name, initially for boys, then increasingly for girls.

Overall data confidence 87%

Behind the Name — Emerson — etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity trends

Variations

EmmersonEmersyn

Nicknames

EmmyEmEmme

Themes & Styles

Unisex Surname-style Literary Vintage-revival

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Emerson…

Elliot— surname-to-first-name crossover with the same literary feel

Harper— literary surname name that similarly surged for girls

Addison— multi-syllable surname name that went decisively girl-coded

Lennon— musical surname name with a cool, intellectual edge

→ See all names like Emerson

Browse the whole category: All English names → · All Germanic names → · All origins →

Frequently Asked

How do you pronounce Emerson?

Emerson is pronounced EM-er-sun (/ˈɛm.ər.sən/). Press play above to hear Emerson said aloud.

How do you say Emerson?

Emerson is said EM-er-sun (/ˈɛm.ər.sən/). Press play above to hear Emerson said aloud.

What does the name Emerson mean?

Emerson is an English surname meaning 'son of Emery,' with Emery tracing to Germanic roots meaning 'work' and 'power.'

Is Emerson a boy or girl name?

Emerson is used for both but has trended strongly female since around 2010.

How popular is Emerson?

Emerson ranked #151 for U.S. girls in 2024, continuing a decade-long climb.