Emery

♂ Boy

Pronounced EM-er-ee /ˈɛm.ər.i/High

Meaning: Work power; brave power; from Germanic Amalric (amal: work, or a Gothic royal family name + ric: ruler, power)High

In 30 seconds: A Germanic name meaning 'work power' or 'brave power,' from the same root as Emerson and Amery. A polished, gender-neutral surname name rising for both boys and girls in the 2010s.

💕 Browse more names

Origin HighGermanic

MeaningWork power; brave power; from Germanic Amalric (amal: work, or a Gothic royal family name + ric: ruler, power)

U.S. rank (2025)#815 ↗ Rising

2025 U.S. births305 boys (0.02% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2012

Total births (all-time)≈ 20,405

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

Emery is an English form of the Germanic name Amalric or Heimirich, composed of elements meaning 'work' or 'Gothic royal family' (amal) and 'power, ruler' (ric). The Norman French form Amaury/Emery entered England after 1066.

Emery has been used for both boys and girls in the U.S. from the late 20th century. It ranked #823 for boys in 2024.

Did you know? Emery cloth — the abrasive sandpaper-like material used for smoothing metal and wood — gets its name from the mineral emery (a form of corundum), not from the personal name. But the phonetic overlap between the mineral and the given name has given Emery an accidentally industrial edge.

Overall data confidence 85%

Behind the Name — Emery — Germanic etymologyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

EmoryEmerie

Nicknames

Famous Bearers

★Emery Walker (1851-1933)
English engraver, photographer and printer
★Emery Moorehead (1954-)
American NFL tight end who won Super Bowl XX with the Chicago Bears
★Emery Lehman (1996-)
American Olympic long-track speed skater

If you like Emery…

Emerson— three-syllable Em- name from the same Germanic root

Averi— -eri variant of the same sound category

Aubrey— -ery ending name from the same Germanic naming tradition

Ivory— -ory ending name with the same three-syllable gender-neutral feel

Explore names like Emery

By themeunisex germanic three-syllable surname-style

By meaningStrength Royal / Noble Brave / Courage

All themes →All meanings →All origins →

Frequently Asked

What does the name Emery mean?

Emery means 'work power' or 'brave power,' from Germanic Amalric (amal: work + ric: power).

How do you pronounce Emery?

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

Is Emery a boy or girl name?

Emery is used for both sexes.

How popular is Emery?

Emery ranked #823 for U.S. boys in 2024.