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Emilee

♀ Girl

Pronounced EM-uh-lee /ˈɛm.ə.li/Medium

Meaning: Respelling of Emily, from the Latin family name Aemilius, often interpreted as 'rival' or 'eager' from 'aemulus'.Medium

In 30 seconds: Emilee is a respelling of Emily, which traces back to the Latin family name Aemilius. That name is usually read as 'rival' or 'eager', from the Latin 'aemulus'.

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Origin MediumModern American, Latin

MeaningRespelling of Emily, from the Latin family name Aemilius, often interpreted as 'rival' or 'eager' from 'aemulus'.

U.S. rank (2024)#1694 ↘ Falling

2024 U.S. births120 girls (0.01% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2003

Total births (all-time)≈ 23,908

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

History & Origin

Behind Emilee stands the old Roman clan name Aemilius, the source of Emily and its many cousins. The connected Latin word 'aemulus' gives the sense of one who rivals or eagerly strives, which is the meaning carried down through every spelling. Emilee simply gives that familiar name a softer, more modern look.

It travels in a wide family of forms, including Emily, Emely, Emalee, and the Latinate Emilia. The doubled 'ee' ending leans into the warm, casual sound that made these spellings popular.

Did you know? Emilee is a spelling variant of Emily, so it keeps the same core meaning of 'origin uncertain' while changing the visual style.

Overall data confidence 78%

Behind the Name - Emilee — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

EmelyEmilyAmiliaEmaleeEmilia

Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

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If you like Emilee…

Emily— the standard form that Emilee respells, from the same Aemilius root

Emilia— a listed variation sharing the Aemilius origin in a fuller form

Amelia— a close cousin often confused with Emily, similar in sound and Latinate feel

Emmeline— shares the 'Em-' opening and the same broad name family

Frequently Asked

What does the name Emilee mean?

Emilee is usually explained as meaning 'origin uncertain' and is most often linked with English tradition.

How do you pronounce Emilee?

It's commonly said EM-uh-lee /ˈɛm.ə.li/.

Is Emilee a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Emilee is used as a girl name.

How popular is Emilee?

In 2024, Emilee ranked #1694 in the U.S. for girls, with 120 births recorded.