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.

Infographic of Emerson name meaning, which is Meaning Emery's son, Emerson is of English origin.
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Emerson Name Popularity

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

Year Rank # Births % Births
1910 — 15 0.0043%
1911 — 27 0.0073%
1912 — 80 0.0159%
1913 — 56 0.0099%
1914 — 104 0.0149%
1915 — 173 0.019%
1916 — 158 0.0164%
1917 — 175 0.0175%
1918 — 224 0.0209%
1919 — 217 0.0207%
1920 — 217 0.0195%
1921 — 185 0.0162%
1922 — 208 0.0187%
1923 — 172 0.0154%
1924 — 190 0.0164%
1925 — 179 0.0158%
1926 — 141 0.0128%
1927 — 139 0.0126%
1928 — 128 0.012%
1929 — 81 0.0078%
1930 — 116 0.0111%
1931 — 77 0.0078%
1932 — 86 0.0087%
1933 — 65 0.007%
1934 — 71 0.0073%
1935 — 44 0.0045%
1936 — 45 0.0047%
1937 — 63 0.0064%
1938 — 58 0.0057%
1939 — 52 0.0051%
1940 — 65 0.0061%
1941 — 72 0.0064%
1942 — 54 0.0043%
1943 — 66 0.0051%
1944 — 45 0.0036%
1945 — 13 0.0011%
1946 — 56 0.0038%
1947 — 59 0.0035%
1948 — 39 0.0024%
1949 — 60 0.0037%
1950 — 46 0.0029%
1951 — 48 0.0028%
1952 — 39 0.0022%
1953 — 36 0.002%
1954 — 76 0.0042%
1955 — 33 0.0018%
1956 — 33 0.0017%
1957 — 40 0.0021%
1958 — 32 0.0017%
1959 — 39 0.0021%
1960 — 49 0.0026%
1961 — 38 0.002%
1962 — 28 0.0015%
1963 — 40 0.0022%
1964 — 53 0.003%
1965 — 36 0.0022%
1966 — 22 0.0014%
1967 — 16 0.0011%
1968 — 20 0.0013%
1969 — 16 0.001%
1970 — 27 0.0017%
1971 — 22 0.0015%
1972 — 16 0.0012%
1973 — 35 0.0027%
1974 — 11 0.0008%
1975 — 16 0.0012%
1976 — 38 0.0029%
1977 — 30 0.0022%
1978 — 25 0.0019%
1979 — 21 0.0015%
1980 — 23 0.0016%
1981 — 26 0.0018%
1982 — 17 0.0011%
1983 — 25 0.0017%
1984 — 31 0.0021%
1985 — 41 0.0027%
1986 — 35 0.0023%
1987 — 42 0.0028%
1988 — 44 0.0028%
1989 — 48 0.003%
1990 — 76 0.0046%
1991 — 54 0.0033%
1992 — 58 0.0036%
1993 — 81 0.0052%
1994 — 35 0.0023%
1995 — 79 0.0052%
1996 — 72 0.0048%
1997 — 63 0.0043%
1998 — 118 0.0079%
1999 — 118 0.0079%
2000 — 111 0.0073%
2001 — 180 0.0119%
2002 — 158 0.0105%
2003 — 220 0.0145%
2004 — 228 0.015%
2005 — 331 0.0216%
2006 — 436 0.0278%
2007 — 486 0.0308%
2008 — 557 0.036%
2009 — 594 0.0397%
2010 — 610 0.0423%
2011 — 710 0.0498%
2012 — 809 0.0568%
2013 — 945 0.0664%
2014 — 1,031 0.0708%
2015 — 1,183 0.0813%
2016 — 1,203 0.0834%
2017 — 1,295 0.0928%
2018 — 1,215 0.0884%
2019 — 1,321 0.0976%
2020 — 1,211 0.0951%
2021 — 1,203 0.0984%
2022 — 1,244 0.0943%
2023 — 1,245 0.0962%

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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 Popularity Other Gender
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
Maple

Maple tree

11 Comments

  1. I chose the name Emerson because it was different and unique.

    Reply

  2. 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

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

    Reply

  4. Absolutely love Emerson for a boy!

    Reply

  5. 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

  6. 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.

    Reply

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

    Reply

  8. Just sort of found the name and fell in love.

    Reply

  10. 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.

    Reply

  11. 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.

    Reply

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