Emer
Say it: EE-mer/ˈiːmɚ/
GirlIrishMythology4 letters2 syllables
#608
in Ireland (2025)
#590 with spellings combined
5
babies in 2025
#43
best rank (1983)
4,789
babies since 1964
Down 299
10-year rank change
Emer through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (girls) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 | #590 |
| 2023 | 10 | #358 |
| 2022 | 8 | #453 |
| 2021 | 9 | #430 |
| 2020 | 10 | #375 |
| 2019 | 7 | #498 |
| 2018 | 10 | #408 |
| 2017 | 13 | #325 |
| 2016 | 20 | #236 |
| 2015 | 17 | #291 |
| 2014 | 27 | #198 |
| 2013 | 24 | #227 |
| 2012 | 27 | #208 |
| 2011 | 34 | #170 |
| 2010 | 37 | #169 |
| 2009 | 37 | #165 |
| 2008 | 39 | #159 |
| 2007 | 42 | #144 |
| 2006 | 42 | #128 |
| 2005 | 65 | #85 |
| 2004 | 46 | #110 |
| 2003 | 39 | #126 |
| 2002 | 60 | #82 |
| 2001 | 65 | #80 |
| 2000 | 74 | #66 |
| 1999 | 74 | #63 |
| 1998 | 62 | #63 |
| 1997 | 73 | #75 |
| 1996 | 86 | #61 |
| 1995 | 89 | #60 |
| 1994 | 76 | #74 |
| 1993 | 84 | #74 |
| 1992 | 76 | #84 |
| 1991 | 90 | #74 |
| 1990 | 114 | #54 |
| 1989 | 89 | #73 |
| 1988 | 92 | #78 |
| 1987 | 122 | #67 |
| 1986 | 148 | #54 |
| 1985 | 162 | #43 |
| 1984 | 159 | #49 |
| 1983 | 195 | #43 |
| 1982 | 167 | #54 |
| 1981 | 147 | #62 |
| 1980 | 147 | #63 |
| 1979 | 149 | #62 |
| 1978 | 159 | #59 |
| 1977 | 146 | #62 |
| 1976 | 107 | #80 |
| 1975 | 134 | #68 |
| 1974 | 145 | #62 |
| 1973 | 151 | #59 |
| 1972 | 129 | #64 |
| 1971 | 100 | #82 |
| 1970 | 99 | #85 |
| 1969 | 86 | #88 |
| 1968 | 106 | #68 |
| 1967 | 74 | #93 |
| 1966 | 53 | #113 |
| 1965 | 78 | #85 |
| 1964 | 54 | #108 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Emer mean?
Uncertain
Irish, from the Old Irish Emer, modern Irish Eimhear, of uncertain meaning.
Say it right
EEmer
The story of Emer
Emer is the English spelling of an Old Irish name, written Eimhear in modern Irish and Eimhir in Scottish Gaelic. Its meaning is not known.
In the Ulster Cycle, Emer is the daughter of Forgall Monach and the wife of Cú Chulainn. She was said to have the six gifts of womanhood: beauty, a fine voice, sweet speech, wisdom, skill at needlework and chastity. In the tale of their courtship Cú Chulainn wins her first with riddles and then with deeds, training with Scáthach and storming her father’s fortress. In a later story, when he falls for the otherworld woman Fand, Emer is the one who shows generosity.
Emer was a top-100 name in Ireland every year from 1967 to 2002. Its best year was 1983, when 195 girls were given it and it reached number 43. It is much rarer now, with 5 girls in 2025. In Northern Ireland its highest place was 85th, in 1998.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Emer (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Emer
- Wikipedia: Cú Chulainn
- CSO VSA60, Girls Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, Baby Names in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Emer | 5 | 4,789 |
In Northern Ireland
#290 in 2025 with 5 babies. Best rank #85 (1998); 322 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.