Emerson Name Meaning, Origin, Popularity, Boy Names Like Emerson

Emerson Name Origin: English
Pronunciation: emm-er-son
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Emerson Name Meaning

The name Emerson means “son of Emery.” So, essentially, the name Emerson speaks to the bravery and industriousness of its bearer. Talk about a name with a strong and admirable meaning!

Origins of the Name Emerson

Emerson originated as a surname in England, and was given to individuals who were the son of Emery. The name Emery comes from the Old German word “amal,” which means “brave” or “industrious,” and “ric,” meaning “ruler.”

In the 19th century, surnames began to be used as first names, and Emerson was no exception. The name became popular in the United States, especially among families with English roots.

Popularity of the Name Emerson

Emerson has been a popular name in the United States for over a century, reaching its peak in popularity in the 1990s. While it has fallen out of the top 100 names in recent years, it remains a sophisticated and timeless choice for parents.

Emerson has been a popular name in pop culture for generations, appearing in books, movies, and television shows. Some notable Emersons include Emerson Lake and Palmer, a progressive rock band, and Ralph Waldo Emerson, an American essayist, lecturer, and poet.

Final Thoughts on the Name Emerson

Today, Emerson is a name that is both traditional and modern. It’s a name that speaks to the bravery and industriousness of its bearer, while still remaining elegant and refined. Plus, with its English roots, Emerson has a charming sense of heritage and history.

In conclusion, Emerson is a name with a rich history and plenty of charm. Whether you’re a fan of its elegant and refined meaning or simply love its sophisticated sound, Emerson is a great choice for any baby boy. So go ahead, give that little guy a name that’s as refined as a glass of wine.

Emerson Name Popularity

How popular is the name Emerson? Here’s everything we know.

Year	Rank	# Births	% Births
1910	407	15	0.0043%
1911	355	27	0.0073%
1912	349	80	0.0159%
1913	440	56	0.0099%
1914	395	104	0.0149%
1915	368	173	0.019%
1916	393	158	0.0164%
1917	382	175	0.0175%
1918	355	224	0.0209%
1919	355	217	0.0207%
1920	373	217	0.0195%
1921	407	185	0.0162%
1922	388	208	0.0187%
1923	416	172	0.0154%
1924	402	190	0.0164%
1925	407	179	0.0158%
1926	448	141	0.0128%
1927	457	139	0.0126%
1928	475	128	0.012%
1929	543	81	0.0078%
1930	479	116	0.0111%
1931	550	77	0.0078%
1932	521	86	0.0087%
1933	568	65	0.007%
1934	573	71	0.0073%
1935	663	44	0.0045%
1936	646	45	0.0047%
1937	583	63	0.0064%
1938	613	58	0.0057%
1939	622	52	0.0051%
1940	591	65	0.0061%
1941	571	72	0.0064%
1942	669	54	0.0043%
1943	626	66	0.0051%
1944	686	45	0.0036%
1945	1,002	13	0.0011%
1946	663	56	0.0038%
1947	689	59	0.0035%
1948	774	39	0.0024%
1949	681	60	0.0037%
1950	752	46	0.0029%
1951	758	48	0.0028%
1952	792	39	0.0022%
1953	835	36	0.002%
1954	668	76	0.0042%
1955	879	33	0.0018%
1956	891	33	0.0017%
1957	843	40	0.0021%
1958	898	32	0.0017%
1959	859	39	0.0021%
1960	800	49	0.0026%
1961	875	38	0.002%
1962	942	28	0.0015%
1963	843	40	0.0022%
1964	788	53	0.003%
1965	857	36	0.0022%
1966	976	22	0.0014%
1967	1,055	16	0.0011%
1968	1,014	20	0.0013%
1969	1,125	16	0.001%
1970	1,018	27	0.0017%
1971	1,086	22	0.0015%
1972	1,190	16	0.0012%
1973	926	35	0.0027%
1974	1,332	11	0.0008%
1975	1,261	16	0.0012%
1976	947	38	0.0029%
1977	1,038	30	0.0022%
1978	1,109	25	0.0019%
1979	1,233	21	0.0015%
1980	1,201	23	0.0016%
1981	1,165	26	0.0018%
1982	1,363	17	0.0011%
1983	1,182	25	0.0017%
1984	1,080	31	0.0021%
1985	1,018	41	0.0027%
1986	1,088	35	0.0023%
1987	1,034	42	0.0028%
1988	1,081	44	0.0028%
1989	1,103	48	0.003%
1990	940	76	0.0046%
1991	1,112	54	0.0033%
1992	1,086	58	0.0036%
1993	950	81	0.0052%
1994	1,333	35	0.0023%
1995	988	79	0.0052%
1996	1,025	72	0.0048%
1997	1,133	63	0.0043%
1998	872	118	0.0079%
1999	895	118	0.0079%
2000	944	111	0.0073%
2001	760	180	0.0119%
2002	811	158	0.0105%
2003	702	220	0.0145%
2004	703	228	0.015%
2005	600	331	0.0216%
2006	531	436	0.0278%
2007	503	486	0.0308%
2008	465	557	0.036%
2009	440	594	0.0397%
2010	423	610	0.0423%
2011	382	710	0.0498%
2012	361	809	0.0568%
2013	333	945	0.0664%
2014	320	1,031	0.0708%
2015	295	1,183	0.0813%
2016	291	1,203	0.0834%
2017	272	1,295	0.0928%
2018	282	1,215	0.0884%
2019	266	1,321	0.0976%
2020	271	1,211	0.0951%
2021	279	1,203	0.0984%
2022	269	1,244	0.0943%

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Data via SSA.gov.

Names Like Emerson

If you like Emerson, you’ll love these other names like Emerson.

What names are variants of Emerson?

Mix it up with these names that are a variation of the name Emerson.

Name	Meaning	Origin	Popularity	Other Gender
Em	Emery's son; home strength	English

What names sound like Emerson?

If you like how Emerson sounds, you might also like these names that sound like Emerson.

Name	Meaning	Origin	Popularity	Other Gender
Emrys	Immortal	Welsh

Lists With Emerson

Find inspiration in these baby boy name lists featuring the name Emerson.

Siblings of Emerson

Mamas with kids named Emerson also have kids with these names.

Name	Meaning	Origin
Floyd	Gray-haired	Welsh
Romano	Citizen of Rome	Latin
Levon	Lion	Armenian
Atlas	Enduring	Greek
Jenson	Son of Jan; God is gracious	Scandinavian
Jaxon	Son of Jack	English
Easton	East town	English
Maverick	Independent one	American
Lyrik
Motley

Share Your Thoughts

10 Comments

Emerson May 12 at 2:56 pm

I personally think this is a BEAUTIFUL and HANDSOME unisex name. My name is Emerson, and I’m a female. I go by Emmy, and I like that Tom-boyish feel for a girl. For a boy, I think it sounds good but a tad bit girly. A reccomended nickname for a girl is Emmy, Emery, Emmie, Em, etc. For a boy, Emery, Emmet, and Elliot are perfect! I love my name.

Reply
Bailea Meeks Jan 6 at 8:10 am

It means brave and my little boy was so brave throughout a hard pregnancy

Reply
Kelly Jan 14 at 12:04 pm

Absolutely love Emerson for a boy!

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Jess Jun 15 at 10:51 pm

He’s the reason I’m a mama! My 1st born…my first boy! I loved this name the first time I heard or saw it. Stole it from the poet, Ralph Waldo Emerson!

Reply
Samantha Jan 3 at 12:11 pm

I’ve only ever met one Emerson in my life, so the name was a good choice for us and met the criteria of being unique. We wanted a three syllable name to match his brother’s name and it can be shortened to Em or Emmy when they’re little. We live in Germany though and have often been asked if we named him “Amazon” which is incredibly annoying but comes from the pronunciation here.

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HEATHER Dec 15 at 6:29 pm

My daughter is Emily
She is having a boy
We’ve always called her Em
So, “Emerson” seemed appropriate .. Em’s son

Reply
Kait Jun 8 at 1:20 pm

Just sort of found the name and fell in love.

Reply
Kentrena May 4 at 11:25 am

In reverence of Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Jessikah Mar 22 at 3:58 am

I was reading poems and saw they were by Ralph Waldo Emerson. I fell in love with the name. I had Emerson when I was 23. Born in February.

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Samantha Auteri Aug 19 at 12:07 am

I loved the name Emerson right from the get go. I think it’s masculine yet still cute, unique enough that he won’t have ten other kid in his class named the same and just overall a nice sounding name. That being said, we live in Germany and it is for some reason veryg difficult to speak for native Germans. I continually get asked if we named our child “Amazon”. Even though there are many famous men (race car driver, musical group, etc) in the past with the name it comes across weird to some people.

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