Emma sits comfortably in the UK charts at #69 in 2024 — recognisable but not overwhelming. Your child may occasionally share their name.
Origin & Meaning
Germanic — Whole, universal
📊
UK Rank 2024
#69
US Rank #2
About the Name Emma
Emma is holding steady in the rankings at #69. It reached its peak of #13 in 1997 and has maintained consistent levels since — the hallmark of a name with lasting rather than trend-driven appeal. The name has been a consistent presence in UK records since 1996. It has spent 29 of the last 29 years inside the UK top 100 — a mark of enduring mainstream appeal.
In terms of origin, Emma is rooted in Germanic, where it means "Whole, universal". Names with strong etymological stories tend to age well — they carry weight beyond fashion cycles.
Emma is distinctive enough that your child will likely be the only one in both their class and their school — standing out on every register.
In the US it ranks even higher at #2, where it enjoys a particularly strong following.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the name Emma
Unlikely. With around 666 UK babies named Emma per year, your child will almost certainly be the only Emma in her class, and possibly the only one in the whole school.
Emma has held a stable position around #69 for several years. It reached its recorded peak of #13 in 1997 and has maintained consistent levels since — suggesting lasting rather than trend-driven appeal.
The name Emma has Germanic origins and means "Whole, universal". Names with clear etymological roots tend to age well — they carry weight beyond fashion cycles and give children a story to tell about their name.
Notable people named Emma include: Emma Ferrer — Emma Kathleen Hepburn Ferrer is an American artist and former model.; Emma Thynn, Marchioness of Bath — Emma Clare Thynn, Marchioness of Bath, styled as Viscountess Weymouth from 2013 to 2020, is a British socialite and aristocrat.; Emma Atkins — Emma Jayne Atkins is an English actress, best known for her role as Charity Dingle in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale..
Yes — Emma is very popular in the United States, ranked #2 in 2024. It's a transatlantic favourite used widely on both sides of the Atlantic.
666
UK babies named Emma (2024)
~0.0
Expected classmates with this name (class of 28)
~0.3
In a school of 600
↓ 9 places
Rank change (last 5 years)
🏫 Who else is in the room?
In a typical UK class of 28, highlighted children share the name Emma
Likely around 1 other Emma in the class
UK Popularity (1996–2024)
Rank and birth count · ONS official data
US Popularity (2020–2024)
Rank · SSA official data
✨ Similar names to Emma
Names with a similar style — each with their own classroom story
Emma Clare Thynn, Marchioness of Bath, styled as Viscountess Weymouth from 2013 to 2020, is a British socialite and aristocrat. She is married to Ceawlin Thynn, 8th Marquess of Bath.
Emma Esther Kingston is a British stage actress. She is best known for playing Vanessa in the London cast of In the Heights, Eva Perón on the international tour of Evita and Elphaba in Wicked.
Dame Emma Thompson is a British actress and screenwriter. Her work spans over four decades of screen and stage, and her accolades include two Academy Awards, three BAFTA Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, and a Primetime Emmy Award.
Emma Elizabeth Wylie Samuelson MBE, known professionally as Emma Samms, is an English actress, best known for playing Holly Sutton on General Hospital and Fallon Carrington on Dynasty. She also portrayed the recurring role of Amanda Vardalis on Doctors.
Emma of Normandy was a Norman-born noblewoman who became the English, Danish, and Norwegian queen through her marriages to the Anglo-Saxon King Æthelred the Unready and the Danish King Cnut the Great. A daughter of the Norman ruler Richard the Fearless and Gunnor, she was Queen of England during her marriage to King Æthelred from 1002 to 1016, except during a brief interruption in 1013–14 when the Danish King Sweyn Forkbeard occupied the English throne.
Emma, Lady Hamilton, was an English model, dancer and actress. She began her career in London's demi-monde, becoming the mistress of a series of wealthy men, culminating in the naval hero Lord Nelson, and was the favourite model and muse of the portraitist George Romney.