Emerson
Son of Emery; brave, powerful — a unisex name of English origin
Popularity of Emerson in the United States
Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA). Based on all Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Meaning & Origin of Emerson
Emerson is an English surname formed from the medieval given name Emery, itself derived from the Germanic Amalric, meaning "brave power" or "work-ruler," combined with the patronymic suffix "-son." Long used as a boy's name, it gained cultural weight through American essayist and philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson, and has surged for girls since the 2000s as part of the broader surname-name trend. Emerson now ranks among the most popular unisex names in the United States.
Emerson Around the World
Emerson is used in 1 languages worldwide, with 1+ international variants.
TypeMale given name
Linguistic data: Wikidata (CC0). Variants and language usage may vary by region.
Nicknames for Emerson
Famous People Named Emerson
- Ralph Waldo Emerson — American essayist and philosopher
- Emerson Fittipaldi — Brazilian Formula One world champion
- Emerson Palmieri — Brazilian-Italian professional footballer
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Sibling Name Ideas for Emerson
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does the name Emerson mean?
Emerson is a unisex name of English origin meaning "Son of Emery; brave, powerful." Emerson is an English surname formed from the medieval given name Emery, itself derived from the Germanic Amalric, meaning "brave power" or "work-ruler," combined with the patronymic suffix "-son." Long used as a boy's name, it gained cultural weight through American essayist and philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson, and has surged for girls since the 2000s as part of the broader surname-name trend.
How do you pronounce Emerson?
Emerson is pronounced EM-er-suhn. Common variations include Emmerson, Emersyn, Emmersyn.
Is Emerson a unisex name?
Yes, Emerson is traditionally a unisex name. Popular nicknames include Em, Emmy, Sonny.
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