Meaning & origin
Where it comes from
A possible origin is Irish, although the derivation remains uncertain.
The story
Use of Emer was revived during the 20th century.
Emer through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 102
- 25 boys · 77 girls
- Most popular year
- 1923
- 10 babies
- 2025
- 0
- Outside the ranked list
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- —
- Too few births to compare
By the numbers
The most recent published U.S. birth count for girls is 6 in 2006. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Its largest published annual count for girls was 10 in 2002. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 440 as a first name in 2020; 255 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Emer’s family of names
Emer shares a linguistic root with Eamhair. Emer has a related form in Emir. In English usage, Emer shares a linguistic root with the Scottish Gaelic form Eimhir.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 2
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 3
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Emer
- Emer de Vatteljurist from the Principality of Neuchâtel1714–1767
- Emer KennyBritish actressborn 1989
- Emer CostelloIrish politicianborn 1962
- Michel EmerFrench musician, composer and lyricist (1906–1984)
- Emer Cookeresearcherborn 1961
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Emer, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Mescal
“descendant of Meisceall”
>99% girls
Enid
“one who gives life”
>99% girls
Effie
“one who speaks well” · “fruitful”
>99% girls
Una
“one who is pure; chaste”
>99% girls
Aline
“one who pays homage to Ireland”
>99% girls
Alva
“one who has a fair complexion” · “a bright man”
24% boys · 76% girls
Muriel
“of the shining sea”
>99% girls
Gladys
“one who is lame”
>99% girls