Fun Facts About the Name Emmy
- More than 12 thousand babies named Emmy: U.S. records list 12,959 babies given the name Emmy from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Emmy Mean?
Emmy is a diminutive of Emma and Emily, so its meaning is usually taken from those names rather than from an independent root. In English and German usage, Emmy can also shorten Emilia or Emilie. The Germanic name Emma comes from an element meaning "whole" or "universal" (Germanic *ermen), giving the familiar sense "whole, universal." The Latin name Aemilia, the source of Emily, is of uncertain origin; it is often connected to Latin aemulus "rival," though that explanation is not certain. As a result, Emmy has no single, undisputed definition: it is best described as a pet form whose meaning depends on the name it shortens.
Emmy Name History & Origins
Emmy began as a familiar or pet form, not as a name with its own ancient root. In German-speaking areas it was used as a diminutive of Emma and Emilie, the German form of Emily; the -y spelling marks it as a nickname form. In English it served the same role for Emma, Emily, and Emilia. The name appears in this familiar function in the 1848 novel Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray, where Amelia Sedley is called Emmy; that literary use shows the name can also shorten Amelia, though Amelia has a separate origin. Scandinavian usage also treats Emmy as a diminutive of Emma and Emilie.
A separate public association comes from the Emmy Awards, first presented in 1949. The award name was derived from "Immy," a nickname for the image orthicon television camera tube, and then respelled "Emmy." This broadcasting use did not create the personal name; it attached a new, non-personal meaning to the same spelling.
How Popular is the Name Emmy?
Emmy recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 2025. Its best rank was #445 in 2025.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #445 | 695 | 0.0432% |
| 2024 | #453 | 690 | 0.0428% |
| 2023 | #505 | 599 | 0.0374% |
| 2022 | #506 | 623 | 0.0380% |
| 2021 | #538 | 571 | 0.0348% |
| 2020 | #518 | 585 | 0.0362% |
| 2019 | #490 | 640 | 0.0382% |
| 2018 | #540 | 580 | 0.0341% |
| 2017 | #611 | 496 | 0.0287% |
| 2016 | #622 | 480 | 0.0271% |
| 2015 | #619 | 467 | 0.0262% |
| 2014 | #662 | 432 | 0.0242% |
| 2013 | #651 | 436 | 0.0249% |
| 2012 | #718 | 387 | 0.0220% |
| 2011 | #778 | 350 | 0.0199% |
| 2010 | #945 | 272 | 0.0153% |
| 2009 | #917 | 295 | 0.0161% |
| 2008 | #953 | 283 | 0.0150% |
| 2007 | #959 | 283 | 0.0147% |
| 2006 | #1,213 | 198 | 0.0104% |
| 2005 | #1,185 | 194 | 0.0105% |
| 2004 | #1,355 | 156 | 0.0085% |
| 2003 | #1,426 | 139 | 0.0076% |
| 2002 | #1,589 | 117 | 0.0065% |
| 2001 | #1,800 | 99 | 0.0055% |
| 2000 | #2,023 | 82 | 0.0045% |
| 1999 | #2,044 | 76 | 0.0043% |
| 1998 | #2,201 | 65 | 0.0037% |
| 1997 | #2,526 | 51 | 0.0029% |
| 1996 | #2,323 | 57 | 0.0033% |
| 1995 | #2,525 | 50 | 0.0028% |
| 1994 | #2,896 | 41 | 0.0023% |
| 1993 | #2,182 | 61 | 0.0034% |
| 1992 | #2,406 | 54 | 0.0029% |
| 1991 | #2,491 | 50 | 0.0027% |
| 1990 | #2,921 | 39 | 0.0021% |
| 1989 | #2,679 | 42 | 0.0023% |
| 1988 | #2,257 | 50 | 0.0028% |
| 1987 | #2,317 | 46 | 0.0026% |
| 1986 | #3,152 | 29 | 0.0017% |
| 1985 | #2,371 | 42 | 0.0024% |
| 1984 | #2,391 | 40 | 0.0024% |
| 1983 | #2,106 | 47 | 0.0028% |
| 1982 | #1,833 | 59 | 0.0035% |
| 1981 | #1,483 | 82 | 0.0049% |
| 1980 | #1,374 | 91 | 0.0055% |
| 1979 | #1,836 | 58 | 0.0036% |
| 1978 | #1,789 | 57 | 0.0037% |
| 1977 | #1,598 | 67 | 0.0044% |
| 1976 | #1,822 | 51 | 0.0035% |
| 1975 | #2,284 | 36 | 0.0025% |
| 1974 | #2,357 | 33 | 0.0022% |
| 1973 | #3,151 | 21 | 0.0014% |
| 1972 | #3,096 | 21 | 0.0014% |
| 1971 | #2,751 | 26 | 0.0016% |
| 1970 | #3,142 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 1969 | #4,255 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1968 | #3,662 | 14 | 0.0009% |
| 1967 | #3,379 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1966 | #3,444 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1965 | #4,288 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1964 | #3,155 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1963 | #2,900 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 1962 | #2,843 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 1961 | #2,989 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 1960 | #2,764 | 20 | 0.0010% |
| 1959 | #2,417 | 23 | 0.0011% |
| 1958 | #2,522 | 21 | 0.0010% |
| 1957 | #2,509 | 21 | 0.0010% |
| 1956 | #2,960 | 16 | 0.0008% |
| 1955 | #1,990 | 29 | 0.0015% |
| 1954 | #2,090 | 26 | 0.0013% |
| 1953 | #1,745 | 33 | 0.0018% |
| 1952 | #2,604 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 1951 | #2,334 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1950 | #2,276 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1949 | #2,654 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1948 | #2,146 | 21 | 0.0012% |
| 1947 | #2,012 | 24 | 0.0014% |
| 1946 | #1,980 | 22 | 0.0014% |
| 1945 | #2,787 | 11 | 0.0008% |
| 1944 | #2,124 | 17 | 0.0013% |
| 1943 | #1,714 | 25 | 0.0018% |
| 1942 | #1,876 | 21 | 0.0016% |
| 1941 | #1,708 | 22 | 0.0018% |
| 1940 | #1,854 | 19 | 0.0017% |
| 1939 | #1,965 | 17 | 0.0016% |
| 1938 | #1,714 | 21 | 0.0019% |
| 1937 | #2,355 | 13 | 0.0012% |
| 1936 | #1,970 | 16 | 0.0015% |
| 1935 | #2,234 | 14 | 0.0013% |
| 1934 | #1,529 | 24 | 0.0023% |
| 1933 | #1,989 | 16 | 0.0016% |
| 1932 | #1,706 | 21 | 0.0020% |
| 1931 | #1,403 | 28 | 0.0026% |
| 1930 | #1,542 | 26 | 0.0023% |
| 1929 | #1,291 | 34 | 0.0030% |
| 1928 | #1,482 | 29 | 0.0025% |
| 1927 | #1,218 | 41 | 0.0034% |
| 1926 | #1,457 | 31 | 0.0026% |
| 1925 | #1,233 | 40 | 0.0033% |
| 1924 | #1,623 | 28 | 0.0022% |
| 1923 | #1,363 | 34 | 0.0028% |
| 1922 | #1,618 | 27 | 0.0022% |
| 1921 | #1,685 | 26 | 0.0021% |
| 1920 | #1,836 | 22 | 0.0018% |
| 1919 | #1,615 | 25 | 0.0022% |
| 1918 | #1,985 | 19 | 0.0016% |
| 1917 | #1,567 | 24 | 0.0022% |
| 1916 | #1,892 | 18 | 0.0017% |
| 1915 | #2,168 | 14 | 0.0014% |
| 1914 | #1,502 | 19 | 0.0025% |
| 1913 | #1,421 | 17 | 0.0027% |
| 1912 | #3,115 | 5 | 0.0009% |
| 1911 | #1,577 | 10 | 0.0024% |
| 1910 | #1,671 | 9 | 0.0023% |
| 1909 | #2,037 | 6 | 0.0017% |
| 1907 | #1,691 | 7 | 0.0022% |
| 1904 | #1,192 | 10 | 0.0036% |
| 1903 | #1,364 | 8 | 0.0031% |
| 1901 | #1,538 | 6 | 0.0025% |
| 1900 | #1,622 | 7 | 0.0023% |
| 1899 | #1,207 | 8 | 0.0034% |
| 1898 | #1,124 | 10 | 0.0039% |
| 1897 | #1,628 | 5 | 0.0021% |
| 1896 | #1,335 | 7 | 0.0029% |
| 1894 | #1,170 | 8 | 0.0036% |
| 1892 | #1,523 | 5 | 0.0024% |
| 1887 | #1,193 | 5 | 0.0034% |
| 1885 | #809 | 8 | 0.0060% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Emmy Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are fine when in harmony but changeable when in discord, because many of your best qualities are then reversed. You are entertaining but may be impulsive. Freedom is a necessity, and you find it difficult to settle down. Your versatility results in many changes, and often brings travel. Your fine intellect is capable of high honors if applied seriously. You are capable of inspired thinking applied to material things. You can be restless, changeable, and very sexy. You have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.
You are always looking for an opportunity to achieve financial and emotional security. You are basically peacemaker. You understand the law of harmony and desire to balance your life with those around you. You may feel incomplete without someone to share your love, ideals, wealth or work. You can be very sensitive and could appear a bit shy and perceptive. You have developed intuition, patience and the ability to nurture others. You can achieve the state of happiness if you are willing to accept your needs in a complimentary relationship and go to create them.
✦ Emmy's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Emmy's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.