Emilie is a female given name of Latin origin. It is derived from the Latin word "Aemilius," which was a Roman family name believed to mean "rival" or "to excel." The name Emilie became popular in France during the Middle Ages and eventually spread throughout Europe.
One of the most famous historical figures with the name Emilie was Emilie du Châtelet, an 18th-century French mathematician, physicist, and writer. She was known for her translations of Isaac Newton's works into French and her own scientific contributions, including a work on the laws of motion and gravity.
In literature, the name Emilie appears in several notable works. In Charlotte Brontë's "Jane Eyre," the character John Reed calls Jane "an ugly little monkey" when she uses the name Emilie instead of Emily. Additionally, the French poet Théophile Gautier wrote a poem titled "Émilia" as part of his collection "Émaux et Camées."
The name Emilie has also been used by several royalty throughout history. For instance, Princess Marie Amélie of Bourbon-Two Sicilies was the wife of King Charles II of Spain and bore the name Emilie.
Today, Emilie remains a popular female given name in many countries around the world. It is often associated with intelligence, creativity, and strength due to historical figures like Emilie du Châtelet, as well as its Latin roots meaning "to excel.
The name Emilie has been consistently popular in the United States over the past century and a half, with a significant increase in its usage since the late 1970s.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the birth rate for girls named Emilie fluctuated between 37 and 193 births per year. The peak of this period occurred in 1915 with 160 births. However, after World War II, the popularity of the name Emilie began to decline.
From the late 1940s to the mid-1970s, the birth rate for girls named Emilie ranged between 43 and 207 births per year. The peak during this period was reached in 1975 with 207 births.
In the late 1970s, the popularity of the name Emilie started to rise again significantly. From 1980 onwards, the birth rate for girls named Emilie exceeded 200 births per year every year except for four years (1983, 1986, 1995, and 2007). The highest peak during this period was in 1996 with 519 births.
Since the late 1990s, the popularity of the name Emilie has stabilized around an average of 400-500 births per year. Despite some fluctuations, it remains a popular choice for parents in the United States. In recent years (2018-2023), the birth rate for girls named Emilie ranged between 174 and 252 births per year.
In total, over the past century and a half, approximately 26,318 girls have been named Emilie in the United States.