Names › Girls' names › E › Emerson
Emerson
Meaning: son of Emery · Origin: English · Gender: usually a girl's name
Origin & history
Emerson began as an English surname meaning 'son of Emery'. Writer Ralph Waldo Emerson is a famous bearer; in modern America it is used for all genders.
Popularity of Emerson in the US, 1880–2025
2025: 2,241 US baby girls named Emerson — #122 for girls · Peak: 2,241 in 2025 · 1950: fewer than 5 · 2000: 136 · 2020: 1,793
Source: US Social Security Administration (SSA) national baby-name data, 1880–2025 (names.zip). Counts are babies of that gender given exactly this spelling each year; SSA leaves out a name in any year with fewer than 5 births.
How to pronounce Emerson
EM-er-sən · IPA /ˈɛmərsən/ (common American English pronunciation)
Language of origin
English surname — son of Emery/Emmer
How the meaning and use of Emerson developed
Emerson began as an English patronymic surname and became a given name for both sexes; this site lists it among girls.
Related names from the same root
Sibling names that go well with Emerson
Sister: Oakley · Blake
Brother: Tatum · Stetson
Our editorial suggestions — similar era, style and length — chosen from names with full pages on this site.
Famous people named Emerson
- Ralph Waldo Emerson (writer)
Nicknames
Em
Variants & related names
Emerson name art
A free preview of a printable “Emerson” poster with its meaning — great for a nursery, a birthday or a gift.
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FAQ
What does the name Emerson mean?
Emerson means “son of Emery”. It comes from English.
How do you pronounce Emerson?
Emerson is usually pronounced EM-er-sən (/ˈɛmərsən/).
Is Emerson a popular name?
In 2025, Emerson ranked #122 among girls' names in the United States, given to 2,241 baby girls, according to US Social Security Administration data. Its peak year was 2025 (2,241 babies).
What are nicknames for Emerson?
Em.
What are other forms of Emerson?
Emersyn, Emery.
What are good sibling names for Emerson?
Sister: Oakley, Blake. Brother: Tatum, Stetson.
Similar names
Poppy · Evie · Millie · Rosie · Faith · Hailey
Browse: English names · all origins & themes
More: names starting with E · all girls' names · name art for any name
Sources: standard name etymology references (e.g. Behind the Name, Oxford Dictionary of First Names); popularity from US SSA and UK ONS baby-name data. Meanings of old names are often debated — where scholars disagree we say so.