Emily
Say it: EM-il-ee
GirlMeans usually linked to Latin aemulus, "rival"5 letters3 syllables
#6
in Ireland (2025)
246
babies in 2025
#1
best rank (2011)
14,203
babies since 1964
Down 5
10-year rank change
Emily through the years
Compare with another name →Show the numbers
| Year | Babies (girls) | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 246 | #6 |
| 2024 | 290 | #5 |
| 2023 | 297 | #3 |
| 2022 | 349 | #2 |
| 2021 | 388 | #3 |
| 2020 | 329 | #3 |
| 2019 | 452 | #1 |
| 2018 | 460 | #1 |
| 2017 | 459 | #1 |
| 2016 | 490 | #1 |
| 2015 | 626 | #1 |
| 2014 | 619 | #1 |
| 2013 | 625 | #1 |
| 2012 | 626 | #1 |
| 2011 | 596 | #1 |
| 2010 | 605 | #2 |
| 2009 | 500 | #7 |
| 2008 | 599 | #5 |
| 2007 | 475 | #8 |
| 2006 | 396 | #11 |
| 2005 | 385 | #11 |
| 2004 | 346 | #13 |
| 2003 | 273 | #20 |
| 2002 | 278 | #19 |
| 2001 | 287 | #18 |
| 2000 | 262 | #19 |
| 1999 | 285 | #14 |
| 1998 | 178 | #25 |
| 1997 | 225 | #27 |
| 1996 | 190 | #31 |
| 1995 | 152 | #37 |
| 1994 | 141 | #41 |
| 1993 | 137 | #43 |
| 1992 | 120 | #51 |
| 1991 | 106 | #65 |
| 1990 | 73 | #93 |
| 1989 | 71 | #99 |
| 1988 | 74 | #91 |
| 1987 | 61 | #109 |
| 1986 | 64 | #104 |
| 1985 | 73 | #97 |
| 1984 | 79 | #95 |
| 1983 | 85 | #93 |
| 1982 | 93 | #90 |
| 1981 | 94 | #87 |
| 1980 | 104 | #87 |
| 1979 | 90 | #93 |
| 1978 | 54 | #133 |
| 1977 | 61 | #125 |
| 1976 | 52 | #138 |
| 1975 | 48 | #147 |
| 1974 | 46 | #156 |
| 1973 | 31 | #184 |
| 1972 | 16 | #232 |
| 1971 | 24 | #197 |
| 1970 | 26 | #180 |
| 1969 | 15 | #221 |
| 1968 | 11 | #243 |
| 1967 | 17 | #192 |
| 1966 | 17 | #189 |
| 1965 | 14 | #202 |
| 1964 | 18 | #180 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies' Names (VSA50, VSA60), CC BY 4.0.
★ What does Emily mean?
Usually linked to Latin aemulus, "rival"
English form of Aemilia, the name of an old Roman family.
Say it right
EMilee
The story of Emily
Emily is the English form of Aemilia, the feminine of an old Roman family name. That family name is usually traced to the Latin aemulus, meaning a rival, or someone eager to match another, though the link is not certain.
The name has been used in English since the Middle Ages. Chaucer gave it to the heroine of The Knight’s Tale. It became common in the 1800s, when it was also used as an English version of Amelia.
In Ireland Emily was already given in 1964, but only to 18 girls. It grew through the 1990s and 2000s and reached number 1 in 2011, then stayed at the top for nine years in a row. Its biggest years were 2012 and 2015, with 626 girls each time. It was also the top girls’ name in Northern Ireland in 2013.
Say it differently where you're from, or spotted something wrong? Tell us.
Sources
- Wiktionary: Emily (English proper noun)
- Wikipedia: Emily
- CSO VSA60, Girls Names in Ireland with 3 or More Occurrences
- NISRA, First Forenames Given to Babies Registered in Northern Ireland
At a glance
Similar names
Sibling ideas
Nicknames
EmEmmyMillie
Spellings counted here
| Spelling | 2025 | All years |
|---|---|---|
| Emily | 246 | 14,203 |
In Northern Ireland
#6 in 2025 with 94 babies. Best rank #1 (2013); 4,547 babies since 1997.
Source: NISRA, Open Government Licence.