What Does the Name Emily Mean?
Emily is a girl's name of Latin origin meaning “rival; from Roman family name Aemilius.”
Updated June 2026
| Name | Emily |
|---|---|
| Gender | female |
| Origin | Latin |
| Meaning | rival; from Roman family name Aemilius |
| Variants | Emilia, Emilie, Emmy, Emelia, Amelia |
| Popularity | #1 US girls' name every year from 1996 to 2007 |
The meaning and origin of Emily
The name Emily means “rival; from Roman family name Aemilius” and has Latin origins. The English form of the Latin Aemilia, feminine of the Roman family name Aemilius, traditionally interpreted as 'rival' or 'emulating'. Made famous by poet Emily Dickinson and the Bronte sisters.
Variants and related names
Emily is related to several other names you may recognize: Emilia, Emilie, Emmy, Emelia, Amelia. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.
How popular is the name Emily?
#1 US girls' name every year from 1996 to 2007
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Open the name generator →Frequently asked questions
What does the name Emily mean?+
The name Emily means “rival; from Roman family name Aemilius” and is of Latin origin.
What is the origin of the name Emily?+
Emily originates from Latin.
Is Emily a popular name?+
Yes — see the popularity note above for how Emily has trended in the US over time.
Emily by gender
More girl's names
Sources
- Behind the Name — Etymology and history of first names — Behind the Name
- US Social Security Administration — Popular baby names by year — Social Security Administration
- A Dictionary of First Names — Oxford Reference — Oxford University Press