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Home › Baby Names Directory › Emerson

Emerson

♀ Girl

How to Pronounce Emerson

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.
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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

peak 202519932025

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

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

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

Explore names like Emerson

By themesurname-nameunisexliterarybravevintage-revival
By meaningStrengthBrave / Courage

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Frequently Asked

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.'

How do you pronounce Emerson?

It's said EM-er-sun — three syllables, with stress on the first.

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.

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