Name meaning & stats
Emily
Emily means “rival” (Latin origin). 835,162 US babies since 1940, peak 1999. Notable Emilys are 2.2× over-represented as footballers.
What it means
“rival”
LatinWell documented
From the Roman family name Aemilia.
In US birth records
Peak year: 1999
835,162 US babies were named Emily between 1940 and 2025.
Where Emilys end up
| Career | vs expected | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Actor | 1.2× | High · 116 people |
| Footballer | 2.2× | High · 65 people |
| Writer | 1.0× | High · 64 people |
| Singer | 0.9× | High · 41 people |
Among notable women who are footballers, Emilys show up 2.2× as often as you'd expect from how common the name is.
Notable people born 1940–2005 in the US, UK, Canada and Australia (Wikidata). Patterns, not destiny.
One more thing…
Emily has a surprise career: 1.8×
Spelling family
The most common spelling: 93% of the family
Names that sound the same, grouped by Heyotag. Share of US babies since 1940.
Name twins (peaked around 1999)