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Emily
Pronounced EM-uh-lee /ˈɛm.ə.li/Medium
Meaning: From the Latin family name Aemilia, 'eager; industrious; striving; a rival'; overwhelmingly a girls' name, here recorded for a boy; we flag the cross-sex useLow
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
Emily comes from the Latin family name Aemilia, 'eager; industrious; striving; a rival'. It is overwhelmingly a girls' name; on this record it is given to a boy, which we flag honestly (slug distinguished; said 'EM-uh-lee').
In the U.S. it is almost entirely a girls' name. As a boy's name it is very rare, eager-and-industrious at the root, and classic.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Emily mean?
Emily is Latin, 'eager; industrious; a rival'. It is overwhelmingly a girls' name; here it is recorded for a boy, which we flag.
How do you pronounce Emily?
It's said EM-uh-lee /ˈɛm.ə.li/ — three syllables, stress on the first.
Is Emily a boy or girl name?
Emily is overwhelmingly a girls' name; this record is for a boy, which we flag honestly.
How popular is Emily?
As a boy's name Emily is very rare in the U.S.