Emi is a Japanese given name that is often used for both boys and girls. The name has a few different meanings depending on the kanji characters used to write it.
One of the most common meanings for Emi is "beautiful" or "handsome," as the kanji characters "美" (bi) and "海" (umi) combined can mean "beauty of the sea." Another popular meaning for Emi is "intelligent" or "clever," as the kanji characters "英" (eij) and "美" (bi) combined can mean "beautiful courage."
The name Emi has a long history in Japan, with notable figures bearing the name throughout different periods. For example, Emi no Michiko was a consort of Emperor Heizei during the early 9th century, while Emiya Shirou is a popular character from the anime and manga series Fate/stay night.
Overall, Emi is a beautiful and meaningful Japanese given name that has been used for centuries and continues to be popular today.
The name Emi experienced a significant rise in popularity over the past century, with a notable surge in usage starting around the late 1970s and continuing through to the present day. The highest number of births recorded for this name was in 2023, with 213 occurrences.