Emily is a name of English origin and it means "rival" or "strive". It comes from the Middle English name Aemilia, which itself derived from the Latin word 'aemulus', meaning rival or competitor.
The name Emily gained popularity during the Victorian era in England due to its usage in poetry and literature. One notable example is Emily Brontë, who wrote the novel "Wuthering Heights". The name also appears in the works of Shakespeare and other prominent authors.
Over time, Emily has become a popular choice for parents around the world. According to data from the Social Security Administration in the United States, Emily was one of the top 20 most popular girl's names between 1996 and 2017, peaking at number 8 in 2009.
Despite its meaning related to competition, Emily is generally considered a feminine name with a soft and elegant sound. Its simplicity makes it appealing as a traditional yet timeless choice for parents looking for a popular yet distinctive name for their daughters.
The name Emily has had a fascinating journey in terms of popularity over the past century in the United States. In 1896, there were only five babies named Emily, marking the beginning of its record-keeping.
From then until 1920, the number of Emmys born each year fluctuated between five and seven, indicating that it was still a relatively uncommon name during this period. However, things began to change in the late 1920s when the numbers started to climb, reaching double digits in 1927 with eleven births.
The 1930s saw a continued increase, with the highest number of Emmys born in any single year being eight, recorded twice (in 1931 and 1932). The 1940s also showed growth, with peaks of nine births in 1941 and seven births in both 1942 and 1945.
However, it wasn't until the late 1960s that Emily's popularity truly began to skyrocket. In 1973, a whopping eighteen Emmys were born, marking a significant turning point. The following year saw seventeen births, and in 1978, an impressive twenty-one Emmys were welcomed into the world.
The 1980s was Emily's decade of dominance. In 1981 alone, forty-eight girls named Emily were born, more than quadruple the number from just a decade prior. This trend continued throughout the decade, with peaks of fifty-five births in 1982 and fifty-seven births in both 1986 and 1988.
The 1990s saw a slight decrease in Emily's popularity, but it remained consistently high, ranging from thirty to forty-five births per year. The new millennium brought another surge in Emmys, with an unprecedented 120 births recorded in 2004 - the highest number ever recorded for this name.
However, since then, Emily's popularity has waned somewhat, with fewer than fifty births recorded annually between 2005 and 2019. The most recent data available shows that in 2021, there were nine Emmys born in the United States.
In total, over the course of the past century, an impressive 1789 little girls named Emily have been welcomed into the world in the United States alone - a testament to this name's enduring appeal and its ability to withstand shifting trends in popularity. Despite fluctuations over time, Emily remains a beloved choice for parents seeking a classic yet distinctive name for their daughters.
Sources:
* Social Security Administration data on U.S. baby names (1879-2021)
* Behind the Name: Emily