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 407 15 0.0043%
1911 355 27 0.0073%
1912 349 80 0.0159%
1913 440 56 0.0099%
1914 395 104 0.0149%
1915 368 173 0.019%
1916 393 158 0.0164%
1917 382 175 0.0175%
1918 355 224 0.0209%
1919 355 217 0.0207%
1920 373 217 0.0195%
1921 407 185 0.0162%
1922 388 208 0.0187%
1923 416 172 0.0154%
1924 402 190 0.0164%
1925 407 179 0.0158%
1926 448 141 0.0128%
1927 457 139 0.0126%
1928 475 128 0.012%
1929 543 81 0.0078%
1930 479 116 0.0111%
1931 550 77 0.0078%
1932 521 86 0.0087%
1933 568 65 0.007%
1934 573 71 0.0073%
1935 663 44 0.0045%
1936 646 45 0.0047%
1937 583 63 0.0064%
1938 613 58 0.0057%
1939 622 52 0.0051%
1940 591 65 0.0061%
1941 571 72 0.0064%
1942 669 54 0.0043%
1943 626 66 0.0051%
1944 686 45 0.0036%
1945 1,002 13 0.0011%
1946 663 56 0.0038%
1947 689 59 0.0035%
1948 774 39 0.0024%
1949 681 60 0.0037%
1950 752 46 0.0029%
1951 758 48 0.0028%
1952 792 39 0.0022%
1953 835 36 0.002%
1954 668 76 0.0042%
1955 879 33 0.0018%
1956 891 33 0.0017%
1957 843 40 0.0021%
1958 898 32 0.0017%
1959 859 39 0.0021%
1960 800 49 0.0026%
1961 875 38 0.002%
1962 942 28 0.0015%
1963 843 40 0.0022%
1964 788 53 0.003%
1965 857 36 0.0022%
1966 976 22 0.0014%
1967 1,055 16 0.0011%
1968 1,014 20 0.0013%
1969 1,125 16 0.001%
1970 1,018 27 0.0017%
1971 1,086 22 0.0015%
1972 1,190 16 0.0012%
1973 926 35 0.0027%
1974 1,332 11 0.0008%
1975 1,261 16 0.0012%
1976 947 38 0.0029%
1977 1,038 30 0.0022%
1978 1,109 25 0.0019%
1979 1,233 21 0.0015%
1980 1,201 23 0.0016%
1981 1,165 26 0.0018%
1982 1,363 17 0.0011%
1983 1,182 25 0.0017%
1984 1,080 31 0.0021%
1985 1,018 41 0.0027%
1986 1,088 35 0.0023%
1987 1,034 42 0.0028%
1988 1,081 44 0.0028%
1989 1,103 48 0.003%
1990 940 76 0.0046%
1991 1,112 54 0.0033%
1992 1,086 58 0.0036%
1993 950 81 0.0052%
1994 1,333 35 0.0023%
1995 988 79 0.0052%
1996 1,025 72 0.0048%
1997 1,133 63 0.0043%
1998 872 118 0.0079%
1999 895 118 0.0079%
2000 944 111 0.0073%
2001 760 180 0.0119%
2002 811 158 0.0105%
2003 702 220 0.0145%
2004 703 228 0.015%
2005 600 331 0.0216%
2006 531 436 0.0278%
2007 503 486 0.0308%
2008 465 557 0.036%
2009 440 594 0.0397%
2010 423 610 0.0423%
2011 382 710 0.0498%
2012 361 809 0.0568%
2013 333 945 0.0664%
2014 320 1,031 0.0708%
2015 295 1,183 0.0813%
2016 291 1,203 0.0834%
2017 272 1,295 0.0928%
2018 282 1,215 0.0884%
2019 266 1,321 0.0976%
2020 271 1,211 0.0951%
2021 279 1,203 0.0984%
2022 269 1,244 0.0943%

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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

8 Comments

  1. Absolutely love Emerson for a boy!

    Reply

  2. 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

  3. 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

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

    Reply

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

    Reply

  7. 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

  8. 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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