Emily: meaning and origin
Emily
“Rival; eager and hardworking”
About the name Emily
Emily is a girl’s name from the Latin tradition. Its meaning is “rival; eager and hardworking”. Names from Latin, the language of ancient Rome — strong, classic names like Olivia, Julian, Clara and Felix.
It’s a classic: a name that has been used for generations and still feels fresh.
Tips before you choose
- Say the full name out loud with your last name, and with any middle name.
- Check the initials — and what they spell.
- Think about nicknames kids might make from it.
- Write it down: is the spelling easy for teachers and friends?
More Latin names
- Aurelia 👧Golden · Latin
- Aurora 👧Dawn; the Roman goddess of the sunrise · Latin
- Ava 👧Bird; also linked to life · Latin
- Beatrice 👧She who brings happiness · Latin
- Cecilia 👧Blind; the patron saint of music · Latin
- Celeste 👧Heavenly · Latin
- Clara 👧Clear, bright, famous · Latin
- Emilia 👧Rival; eager; a form of Emily · Latin
- Felicity 👧Happiness, good fortune · Latin
- Frankie 🧒Free one; a pet form of Francis and Frances · Latin
- Grace 👧Grace, kindness, charm · Latin
- Julia 👧Youthful · Latin
Sibling name ideas (Latin, boys)
- Adrian 👦From Hadria, a town near the Adriatic Sea · Latin
- Anthony 👦Priceless, highly praiseworthy · Latin
- August 👦Great, magnificent · Latin
- Bennett 👦Blessed · Latin
- Calvin 👦Bald · Latin
- Christian 👦Follower of Christ · Latin
- Dominic 👦Belonging to the Lord · Latin
- Felix 👦Happy, lucky · Latin
More girl names starting with E
- Eden 👧Delight; the Garden of Eden · Hebrew
- Eleanor 👧Light; from the medieval name Aliénor · French
- Elena 👧Bright, shining light; a form of Helen · Greek
- Eliana 👧My God has answered · Hebrew
- Elizabeth 👧My God is an oath · Hebrew
- Ella 👧All, completely; also a short form of Eleanor · German
- Ellie 👧Light; a short form of Eleanor and Ellen · English
- Eloise 👧Healthy, wide · French
- Elsa 👧My God is an oath; a short form of Elisabeth · German
- Ember 👧A glowing piece of coal · English
Questions and answers
What does the name Emily mean?
Emily is a name of Latin origin. It means: rival; eager and hardworking.
Is Emily a boy or girl name?
Emily is usually given to girls.
How many syllables does Emily have?
Emily has 5 letters and about 3 syllables.
Is Emily a popular name?
Yes. Emily has been near the top of US baby-name lists in recent years. Names marked “popular now” have been near the top of US baby-name lists in recent years. This is an approximate guide, not an official ranking; see the Social Security Administration’s baby names site for official counts.