Given name & surname
Emeli
“rival”
Emeli is a variant of Emily. The Roman family name behind Emily is probably connected with the Latin word for “rival,” although that derivation is uncertain.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Emeli is a variant of Emily. The Roman family name behind Emily is probably connected with the Latin word for “rival,” although that derivation is uncertain.
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Emeli is a variant of Emily. Emily is an English development of the Latin feminine name Aemilia.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
Emeli is a variant of Emily. The shared background comes through Emily: Aemilia is the feminine form of Aemilius. Emily developed through a medieval version of that name; the proposed root is aemulus, “rival.”
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1986. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. Emeli is a variant of Emily. The history of Emily gives this family its wider story. Emily was relatively uncommon in the Middle Ages and was revived in the nineteenth century. At that time, Emilia and the separately rooted Amelia were often confused, helping explain their overlapping naming histories.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Emeli through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 1,417
- 0 boys · 1,417 girls
- Most popular year
- 2005
- 91 babies
- 2025
- 32
- #4,386 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +17%
- Rising
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 32 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 4,386 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 17.1% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 91 in 2005. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (7). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 1,326 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
The ring: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 2
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Similar names
If you love Emeli, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Anjely
>99% girls
Elizeth
>99% girls
Anahy
Anahy is a feminine given name from Spanish. It is used in Portuguese.
>99% girls
Meraly
>99% girls
Yareli
“The Lord is my light”
>99% girls
Tehani
“the”
>99% girls
Wendoly
>99% girls
Envy
>99% girls