Emil
From German Emil, from Latin Aemilius, a Roman family name possibly from aemulus (“rival”).
Every Emil since 1880 — 33,230 of them. Popularity, births, and rankings for each year, from official Social Security records.
The story of Emil
Emil is uncommon for boys in the United States, ranked #1,269 in 2025 with 155 babies given the name. It is currently rising compared with a decade ago.
Since 1880, 33,230 American babies have been named Emil. Its peak came in 1917, when 1,012 newborns received the name — the signature sound of the 1910s.
The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Emil stood among all boys' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.
Emil year by year
Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.
| Year | Girls | Girls rank | Boys | Boys rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | — | — | 155 | #1,269 |
| 2024 | — | — | 159 | #1,245 |
| 2023 | — | — | 187 | #1,131 |
| 2022 | — | — | 188 | #1,126 |
| 2021 | — | — | 152 | #1,258 |
| 2020 | — | — | 152 | #1,235 |
| 2019 | — | — | 155 | #1,227 |
| 2018 | — | — | 129 | #1,369 |
| 2017 | — | — | 144 | #1,267 |
| 2016 | — | — | 125 | #1,405 |
| 2015 | — | — | 127 | #1,371 |
| 2014 | — | — | 120 | #1,403 |
| 2013 | — | — | 115 | #1,437 |
| 2012 | — | — | 114 | #1,449 |
| 2011 | — | — | 106 | #1,512 |
| 2010 | — | — | 106 | #1,528 |
| 2009 | — | — | 147 | #1,223 |
| 2008 | — | — | 134 | #1,296 |
| 2007 | — | — | 113 | #1,435 |
| 2006 | — | — | 101 | #1,502 |
| 2005 | — | — | 92 | #1,538 |
| 2004 | — | — | 79 | #1,635 |
| 2003 | — | — | 86 | #1,501 |
| 2002 | — | — | 97 | #1,362 |
| 2001 | — | — | 109 | #1,223 |
| 2000 | — | — | 89 | #1,403 |
| 1995 | — | — | 90 | #1,223 |
| 1990 | — | — | 82 | #1,208 |
| 1985 | — | — | 79 | #1,035 |
| 1980 | — | — | 89 | #955 |
| 1975 | — | — | 98 | #838 |
| 1970 | — | — | 124 | #741 |
| 1965 | — | — | 146 | #628 |
| 1960 | 5 | #6,644 | 161 | #616 |
| 1955 | — | — | 179 | #551 |
| 1950 | — | — | 207 | #463 |
| 1945 | — | — | 223 | #403 |
| 1940 | — | — | 263 | #349 |
| 1935 | 5 | #4,405 | 320 | #304 |
| 1930 | 5 | #4,753 | 509 | #246 |
| 1925 | 8 | #3,784 | 722 | #191 |
| 1920 | 7 | #4,109 | 835 | #167 |
| 1915 | 8 | #3,218 | 918 | #138 |
| 1910 | — | — | 194 | #161 |
| 1905 | — | — | 122 | #164 |
| 1900 | — | — | 127 | #165 |
| 1895 | — | — | 136 | #122 |
| 1890 | — | — | 165 | #101 |
| 1885 | — | — | 138 | #105 |
| 1880 | — | — | 119 | #113 |
Famous people named Emil
- Emil Cioran Philosopher · 1911–1995
- Emil Fischer Chemist · 1852–1919
- Emil Zátopek Athlete · 1922–2000
- Emil Nolde Painter · 1867–1956
- Emil Lenz Physicist · 1804–1865
Ranked by global fame across Wikipedia editions (Pantheon project, MIT).
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Emil mean?
From German Emil, from Latin Aemilius, a Roman family name possibly from aemulus (“rival”).
How popular is the name Emil in 2025?
Emil ranked #1,269 among boys' names in the United States in 2025, with 155 babies given the name, according to Social Security Administration data.
How many people are named Emil?
33,230 babies have been named Emil in the United States since 1880, based on Social Security card applications.
When was the name Emil most popular?
Emil peaked in 1917, when 1,012 newborns received the name.
Is Emil a boy or girl name?
Emil is overwhelmingly a boy's name — 100% of babies with the name.
Is the name Emil rising or falling?
Emil is on the rise — noticeably more popular now than a decade ago.
Who are famous people named Emil?
Well-known people named Emil include Emil Cioran (philosopher), Emil Fischer (chemist), Emil Zátopek (athlete).