Given name & surname
Emory
“the work ruler; the strength of home”
Emory is a variant of Emery. One German interpretation is “the work ruler; the strength of home.”
Meaning & origin
What it means
Emory is a variant of Emery. One German interpretation is “the work ruler; the strength of home.”
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
Emory is a variant of Emery. An origin associated with Emery is German.
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.
From dated birth records
Emory through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 29,762
- 18,970 boys · 10,792 girls
- Most popular year
- 2024
- 1,212 babies
- 2025
- 1,168
- #339 for girls · #883 for boys
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +26%
- Rising
Boys, girls and both
The balance of boys and girls given this name has shifted over time. Recent births are 29% boys.
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 899 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 339 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 37.5% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. It also appeared in 269 birth records for boys in 2025. In 2025, Texas had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (163). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 14,171 as a first name in 2020; 5,309 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.
Emory’s family of names
Emory has a related form in Emery. In English usage, Emory has a conventional equivalent in the German form Emmerich.
Inner ring: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 3
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Across languages 2
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Emory
- Andrew TateAmerican-British businessman, former kickboxer, dating coach and manosphere influencerborn 1986
- Emory CohenAmerican actorborn 1990
- Emory ClarkAmerican rowerborn 1938
- Emory TateAmerican chess player (1958–2015)
- Emory JohnsonAmerican actor, director, producer, and writer (1894-1960)
- Emory ParnellAmerican vaudeville performer and actor (1892-1979)
- Emory Leon ChaffeeAmerican physicist1885–1975
- Emory WashburnAmerican politician; Harvard Law professor (1800–1877)
- Emory DouglasAmerican artist and former Minister of Culture for the Black Panther Party (born 1943)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Emory, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Gentry
“woman with a high social standing” · “of good breeding; holding a high social standing”
52% boys · 48% girls
Amor
“one who is loves and is loved”
27% boys · 73% girls
Ary
“resembling a lion or an eagle”
30% boys · 70% girls
Merritt
“from the boundary's gate” · “one who deserves good fortune”
34% boys · 66% girls
Arden
“one who is passionate and enthusiastic” · “from the valley of the eagles”
40% boys · 60% girls
Lennon
“daughter of love” · “son of love”
26% boys · 74% girls
Ilia
“from the ancient city”
48% boys · 52% girls
Landry
“of the rough terrain”
43% boys · 57% girls