Baby Name Popularity Profile

Emma

Data-driven SSA statistics, rankings, and historical trends for Emma.

✦ Whole, universal 🌍 German traditional royal
National Rank (2025) #3
All-Time Peak Rank #1 Achieved 2008
Total U.S. Births 776,439 since 1880
Unisex Distribution 0.1% Boy / 99.9% Girl Female Archetype
First Recorded 1880 Last seen: 2025
Peak Decade 2010s 22,719 births in 2003
πŸ’‘ The Emma Vibe: Considered a Perennial Favorite. A historic staple that has maintained dominant national popularity for over half a century.

🌍 Meaning & Etymology

Primary Meaning Whole, universal
Language Origin German
Origin Type single
Derived from the Germanic element *ermen*, meaning 'whole' or 'universal'.
Common Nicknames
Em Emmy
Pronunciation: EM-Ι™
Themes & Categories
Etymology confidence: High

πŸ“– The Story Behind Emma

According to SSA data, Emma achieved its highest historical rank of #1 in 2008. Its highest annual registration volume occurred in 2003 with 22,719 babies. Between 2015 and 2025, modern registrations have decreased by 37.7%. Overall, the name has maintained a ranked presence for 146 consecutive years.

πŸ“Š Factual Timeline & Current Trajectory (1880 – 2025)

Registration footprint of Emma across 145 years of SSA data.

5-Year Trajectory Declining
10-Year Shift -37.7% Decline
18801920196020002025

πŸ“ˆ Popularity Milestones & Volatility

Busiest Year on Record 22,719 births in 2003
Years in Top 100 95 yrs
Years in Top 500 146 yrs
Registry Streak 146 yrs
Historical Volatility Moderately Volatile
Largest 1-Year Jump N/A
Decade-by-Decade Registration Volumes
1880s: 25,404
1890s: 28,652
1900s: 24,176
1910s: 41,819
1920s: 46,538
1930s: 30,022
1940s: 22,788
1950s: 14,613
1960s: 6,993
1970s: 4,665
1980s: 10,381
1990s: 58,252
2000s: 181,414
2010s: 195,070
2020s: 85,652

πŸ“ Sound & Spelling Structure

Phonetic Syllables Em-ma
Letter Count 4 letters
Spelling Complexity Easy
Length Percentile Longer than 1.4% of names
Linguistic Profile: Longer than 1.4% of SSA names. Starts with E, a letter used by only 3.9% of SSA names.

πŸ› οΈ Sibling & Surname Cadence Tool

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πŸ“ Authentic State & Regional Rankings

Highest Ranking State Nevada
Top States Nevada, Alaska, Mississippi, Utah, New Hampshire
States with Data 51
State 2025 Rank Total Births Peak Year 5-Yr Velocity
Nevada #3 3,638 2014 7.3% Decline
Alaska #3 1,459 2004 3.3% Decline
Mississippi #7 12,638 1926 16.9% Decline
Utah #1 8,043 2003 11.1% Decline
New Hampshire #12 2,958 2003 13.0% Decline
Arizona #6 11,343 2018 24.3% Decline
Alabama #5 16,867 2003 29.8% Decline
Idaho #4 3,611 2006 +10.4% Growth
South Carolina #4 13,185 2014 8.7% Decline
Arkansas #7 9,724 2007 36.6% Decline
Tennessee #4 18,900 2003 21.7% Decline
Florida #4 30,274 2017 12.9% Decline
North Carolina #5 25,157 2004 19.4% Decline
Georgia #4 24,534 2003 +1.8% Growth
Vermont #13 1,464 2004 Insufficient historical volume
Kentucky #6 14,711 2005 27.7% Decline
Delaware #5 1,721 2003 8.6% Decline
Virginia #2 18,974 2003 10.7% Decline
Colorado #4 9,871 2003 12.4% Decline
Oregon #4 7,304 2003 7.3% Decline
Washington #7 12,879 2003 36.8% Decline
Texas #1 59,614 2017 7.3% Decline
North Dakota #10 2,536 2003 24.3% Decline
Maryland #7 10,817 2003 22.5% Decline
West Virginia #15 6,625 2012 39.5% Decline
New Mexico #11 3,818 2014 43.0% Decline
Wyoming #8 957 2011 Insufficient historical volume
Oklahoma #5 9,625 2008 32.0% Decline
Maine #16 3,099 2003 41.5% Decline
Missouri #7 15,677 2003 32.2% Decline
Connecticut #6 7,636 2003 20.8% Decline
Indiana #6 16,405 2004 27.9% Decline
Kansas #7 7,281 2003 25.0% Decline
Montana #13 2,071 2013 12.1% Decline
Louisiana #4 12,147 2004 34.9% Decline
Minnesota #8 12,094 2003 19.8% Decline
Nebraska #11 4,793 2003 39.4% Decline
Pennsylvania #5 34,715 2003 32.4% Decline
Rhode Island #11 2,363 2002 47.2% Decline
Massachusetts #3 15,872 2003 12.2% Decline
South Dakota #4 2,178 2003 2.7% Decline
California #5 62,949 2018 22.5% Decline
New Jersey #1 17,113 2017 2.3% Decline
Ohio #7 28,254 2003 26.6% Decline
Iowa #3 7,970 2003 1.7% Decline
Wisconsin #5 11,863 2003 9.0% Decline
Hawaii #2 1,741 2017 +12.1% Growth
Illinois #4 26,424 2003 19.6% Decline
Michigan #8 19,924 2003 35.8% Decline
New York #1 38,545 2015 19.5% Decline
District of Columbia #1 1,749 2001 10.0% Decline

πŸ‘¨β€πŸ‘©β€πŸ‘§ Sibling Name Suggestions

πŸ‘¦ Brother Suggestions
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