Emil
Emil was the 1269th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 155 babies. Its best year was 1881, when it ranked 90th; the most babies were born in 1917 (1,004). Over the last ten years it has moved up 102 places. More babies were named Emil in the 1920s than in any other decade.
Meaning Origin uncertain · German, Latin
Say it EE-mul /ˈiməl/
- Rank in 2025
- #1,269 boys, down 34 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 155boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 19171,004 babies
- Total since 1880
- 33,230babies recorded
What does the name Emil mean?
Emil is the German and Scandinavian form of the Roman family name Aemilius (French Émile). DMNES and Wiktionary say Aemilius may come from Latin aemulus, "rival, emulating", but this is not certain. The name became popular in German-speaking Europe and Scandinavia in the 19th century and came to the US with immigrants; it was most common here around 1900 to 1920.
Aemilius (Latin, “Roman family name”)aemulus (Latin, “rival, emulating (possible source)”)
How sure is this? Uncertain. The link of Aemilius to aemulus "rival" is possible, not proven.
Related names: Emile, Emilio, Emily, Emilia.
See also: Latin names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Emil', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation)
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Emil', DMNES (Durham University)
- Wikipedia, 'Emil (given name)', Wikipedia (Wikimedia Foundation)
Emil popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 134 since 1896.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #1,269 | 155 |
| 2020 | #1,235 | 152 |
| 2010 | #1,528 | 106 |
| 2000 | #1,403 | 89 |
| 1990 | #1,208 | 82 |
| 1980 | #955 | 89 |
| 1970 | #741 | 124 |
| 1960 | #616 | 161 |
| 1950 | #463 | 207 |
| 1940 | #349 | 263 |
| 1930 | #246 | 509 |
| 1920 | #167 | 835 |
| 1910 | #161 | 194 |
| 1900 | #165 | 127 |
| 1890 | #101 | 165 |
| 1880 | #113 | 119 |
How popular is Emil, counting every spelling?
Emil has no other common spelling that sounds the same. Counting every name's spellings together, it ranks #1,204 for boys in 2025, against #1,269 on the official list.
How many kids will share the name Emil?
155 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Emil (0.04 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Emil born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 54 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Emil.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Emil?
About 9,400 people born in the US named Emil are alive today, with a median age of 45; half are between 17 and 69. That makes Emil mostly worn by adults in their thirties to fifties. The wide spread shows a name popular in two different eras.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Emil by state
How common Emil was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Massachusetts (3.3×), New York (2.5×), Pennsylvania (2.1×), New Jersey (1.9×), Washington (1.8×). In 36 states fewer than five boys a year got the name, too few for SSA to publish, so those states show as zero.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Emil: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Emil, they share its era and feel.
Middle names for Emil · Sibling names for Emil
Questions about the name Emil
What does Emil mean?
The origin of Emil is uncertain: the link of Aemilius to aemulus "rival" is possible, not proven.
How popular is the name Emil?
Emil was the 1269th most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 155 babies. Its best year was 1881, when it ranked 90th; the most babies were born in 1917 (1,004). Over the last ten years it has moved up 102 places. More babies were named Emil in the 1920s than in any other decade.
Is Emil a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Emil in the US.
Where is Emil most popular?
In 2021–2025, Emil was most common in District of Columbia (0.34 per 1,000 boys), followed by Massachusetts and New York.