Emily
/EH-M-IH-L-IY/
Rival, or striving and industrious, from the Latin family name Aemilia, of the gens Aemilius, linked to aemulus (eager, emulous). The sense of energetic effort runs through it, and as the English form of that old Roman line it became one of the steadiest girls' names of its age.
See Emily scored for your familyQuick — what every parent wants to know about Emily:
Yes — Emily is a Christian girl name of English origin, meaning “Rival, or striving and industrious, from the Latin family name Aemilia, of the gens Aemilius, linked to aemulus (eager, emulous). The sense of energetic effort runs through it, and as the English form of that old Roman line it became one of the steadiest girls' names of its age.”.
How well does Emily fit your family?
This page tells you what Emily means. The app tells you whether it's right for your baby — scored against the names already in your family, your heritage, and your baby's exact birth star.
Unlock Emily's score — free
Six signals — scored for your family, not in the abstract:
Meaning & origin
Emily is a girl's name of English origin, traditionally used in Christian families. The name means "Rival, or striving and industrious, from the Latin family name Aemilia, of the gens Aemilius, linked to aemulus (eager, emulous). The sense of energetic effort runs through it, and as the English form of that old Roman line it became one of the steadiest girls' names of its age." and belongs to the Energy cluster — names with vitality, motion, and bright life force.
Common among American, European, Singaporean families, Emily carries cultural weight that goes beyond its dictionary definition — it's a name with a story and a community.
What would a baby named Emily look like?
NameRoot imagines a one-of-a-kind AI baby portrait for every name, shaped by its heritage — the features, the colouring, the feeling a name like Emily carries. No two are alike.
See Emily's portrait — and its full score — the moment you open the app.
See Emily's baby portrait →What does Emily's numerology say?
Numerology assigns each name a single-digit destiny number by summing its letter values. Different schools use different mappings — NameRoot computes both so you can see how Emily resonates in either tradition.
Emily's destiny number is 1 — but a number only matters in context. The app matches it to your family's own numbers for a real compatibility read. See Emily's full reading →
Does Emily go with your family's names?
Emily breaks into 5 sounds: /EH-M-IH-L-IY/. The real test isn't how it sounds alone — it's how it sounds beside the names already in your family: yours, your partner's, and any brothers or sisters. NameRoot scores that harmony, so Emily sits naturally next to a Mum and Dad like Michael & Anna, or a big sister named Gianna — no awkward clashes, no two names that blur together. Hear Emily beside your family's names →
Nicknames
Common affectionate forms of Emily — useful for everyday family conversation, early childhood, or as standalone given names themselves.
Names similar to Emily
If Emily resonates with you, these names live in the same world — drawn from the same tradition, sharing the same meaning, or echoing a similar sound.
From the same tradition
Other Christian girl names, common in American families
Sharing the same meaning
Other Christian girl names from the Energy cluster
Names that sound similar
Christian girl names that open with the same syllables as Emily
Explore more names
Keep exploring names like Emily — by tradition, by meaning, or by first letter.
Common questions about Emily
What does the name Emily mean?
Emily means "Rival, or striving and industrious, from the Latin family name Aemilia, of the gens Aemilius, linked to aemulus (eager, emulous). The sense of energetic effort runs through it, and as the English form of that old Roman line it became one of the steadiest girls' names of its age.." It is a girl name of English origin, traditionally used in Christian families.
Is Emily a boy or girl name?
Emily is most commonly used as a girl name.
What is the origin of the name Emily?
Emily is of English origin, used in Christian tradition, commonly among American, European, Singaporean families.
Is Emily a Christian name?
Yes. Emily is a girl name traditionally used in Christian families, of English origin.
What does Emily mean in English?
Emily originates from English, where it means "Rival, or striving and industrious, from the Latin family name Aemilia, of the gens Aemilius, linked to aemulus (eager, emulous). The sense of energetic effort runs through it, and as the English form of that old Roman line it became one of the steadiest girls' names of its age.."
What are common nicknames for Emily?
Common short forms of Emily include Em, Emmy, Millie.
What is the numerology of Emily?
Emily has a Pythagorean destiny number of 1 — leadership and pioneering spirit.
See how Emily scores for your family
NameRoot is the only baby-name app that scores every name across 6 signals against your specific family context. Download free — Emily is waiting.
Get NameRoot — free