Emerson

Emerson - A very unique male name

Emerson appeared on the charts for the first time in 1910 on position #407. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Emerson and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Emerson? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Emerson. The baby boy name Emerson was given to 1,362 baby boys in 2025, ranking #253 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 1,077 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Emerson peaked in popularity 1 years ago in 2025 on position 253.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Emerson, 1-5?

Emerson is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Emerson is currently topping the baby name charts in Vermont at position #111 - and is the least popular in New Jersey at position #498.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Emerson is where you live.

---

Comment and discuss

---

Emerson origin and meaning

English surname

"Son of Emery" — a patronymic surname; Emery itself is Germanic, from a name meaning "industrious ruler"

Emerson is a patronymic surname that lived quietly as a boys' name through the twentieth century, shadowed by the fame of essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson (for whom Emerson was the surname). It reached its boys' peak in 2025 even as the same name became still more popular for girls.

Attested etymology

Emerson is a 7 letter name with 3 syllables.

To see famous people named Emerson, pop culture references for the name Emerson and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Emerson

We've found the following names that sound similar to Emerson, sorted by popularity.

Enrique / Enrico / Emrys / Enrigue / Enrrique / Emeric / Emerick / Emric / Emersyn / Emmerson /

---

Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Emerson

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Emerson a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Emerson?

3 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

---

Pronunciation

EM-ur-sun · /ˈɛmərsən/

Around the world

No traditional forms in other languages — this name was created in America in our own time.

Spellings and nicknames

• Emersen — A respelling with -sen

Famous bearers

• Emerson Fittipaldi — Brazilian racing driver, two-time Formula One world champion (b. 1946) Contemporary

Style

SurnameLiterary

Why parents choose it

Parents pick Emerson for boys as a literary-feeling surname name — scholarly, gentle, and substantial, with Ralph Waldo Emerson's shadow lending it intellect.

Worth knowing

• The girls' Emerson boom means a boy Emerson will often be assumed female on paper.
• It blurs with Emery and Emmett, its close fashionable neighbors.