Given name
Emelie
“rival”
In Swedish use, Emelie has a related form in 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
In Swedish use, Emelie has a related form in 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
In Swedish use, Emelie has a related form in Emily. Emily is an English development of the Latin feminine name Aemilia.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In Swedish use, Emelie has a related form in 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 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. In Swedish use, Emelie has a related form in 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
Emelie through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 2,612
- 0 boys · 2,612 girls
- Most popular year
- 2003
- 76 babies
- 2025
- 25
- #5,134 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −43%
- Cooling
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 25 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 5,134 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 43.0% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 76 in 2003. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (5). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 2,085 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.
Emelie’s family of names
In Swedish usage, Emelie has a related form in Emily. In Swedish usage, Emelie has a related form in Emilia. In German usage, Emelie has a related form in Emilie.
Inner ring: spellings · outer: nicknames and forms.
Nicknames & forms 7
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 4
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
People named Emelie
- Emelie ÖhrstigSwedish cross-country skier and road racing cyclistborn 1978
- Emelie LundbergSwedish association football playerborn 1993
- Emelie WikströmSwedish female alpine skierborn 1992
- Emelie ForsbergSwedish ultramarathon runner and ski mountaineerborn 1986
- Emelie ScheppSwedish novelistborn 1979
- Emelie BerggrenSwedish ice hockey playerborn 1982
- Emelie GarbersSwedish actressborn 1982
- Emelie Rosenqvistactressborn 1980
- Emelie AnderssonSwedish association football playerborn 1996
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Emelie, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Estrella
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>99% girls
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McKenzie
In English use, McKenzie has a related form in Mackenzie. Interpretations include “daughter of a wise leader; a fiery woman; one who is fair” and “the son of a wise leader; a fiery man; one who is fair”. These may reflect different naming traditions.
1% boys · 99% girls
Arely
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>99% girls
Averie
“one who is a wise ruler; of the nobility”
2% boys · 98% girls
Annika
“a woman graced with God's favor”
>99% girls
Alexia
“helper and defender of mankind”
>99% girls