Emerson
Meaning of Emerson
Emerson, pronounced EM-er-suhn (/ˈɛmərsən/), traces its etymology to the medieval English surname signifying “son of Emery,” itself derived from the Old Germanic Emmerich (“industrious, powerful”), and its rise from surname to given name illustrates the broader Anglo-American pattern in which patronymic family names migrate into forename use; first documented as a male designation in the nineteenth century—most memorably borne by the transcendentalist essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson—the name has, over recent decades, acquired a firmly unisex profile. U.S. birth-record data confirm a steep, sustained ascent: from a marginal 20 registrations and rank 847 in 1997 to nearly two thousand newborns and rank 148 by 2024—a trajectory that underscores both the cultural appeal of its brisk, modern phonetics and the contemporary preference for gender-neutral appellations. While still anchored in its scholarly associations with American letters, Emerson’s current popularity also reflects its compatibility with surname-as-first-name trends, producing a designation that balances intellectual heritage, phonological clarity, and cross-gender versatility.
Pronunciation
American English
- Pronunced as EM-er-suhn (/ˈɛmərsən/)
British English
- Pronunced as EM-er-suhn (/ˈɛməs(ə)n/)
U.S. Popularity Chart
States Popularity Chart
Notable People Named Emerson
| Emerson Palmieri is an Italian left back born in Brazil who plays for Marseille in Ligue 1. |
| Emerson Royal, also known as Emerson, is a Brazilian footballer who plays right back or center back for Flamengo and the Brazil national team. |
| Emerson Spartz founded the Harry Potter fansite MuggleNet and the viral media company Dose. |
| Emerson Newton-John is an American racing driver and Olivia Newton-John's nephew, known for competing in NASCAR, the ARCA Racing Series, and Indy Lights. |
| Emerson Hancock is an American pitcher for the Seattle Mariners who played at Georgia, was the sixth overall pick in 2020, and debuted in the majors in 2023. |
| Emerson Jeka is an Australian rules footballer who played for Hawthorn in the AFL and spent time on the Geelong list without a senior match. |
| Emerson Santos is a Brazilian central defender who plays for Ponte Preta. |
| Emerson Cris Hartkopp is a Brazilian former defensive midfielder and the current head coach of Brasil de Pelotas. |
| Emerson de Andrade Santos, known as Emerson Paulista, is a Brazilian footballer for Esporte Clube Noroeste. |
| Emerson Nathaniel Bell was a 20th century American artist and jazz musician from Baton Rouge who studied sculpture under Frank Hayden, became the first NEA artist in residence to teach in East Baton Rouge Parish schools, and has work in the LSU and New Orleans Museum of Art collections. |
