Ema
Girl name · #1348 in 2025 · Rare
How old is the name Ema? In official American birth records, Ema has been tracked continuously since 1883, giving it 142 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 164 baby girls were named Ema, placing it at #1348 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1470, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 10,976 girls born in 2025 was named Ema.
Babies named Ema per year. Source: Official national birth records.
The 142-year story
Ema first appears in the Social Security records in 1883, when 8 girls received the name. Its all-time peak is essentially right now: 2025, with 164 babies and a rank of #1348. Names at their peak can keep climbing — or be one trend cycle from the long slide that eventually hits most popular names. Following the curve matters more than today's snapshot: a name's position on its rise-peak-decline arc is the best predictor of how common it will feel in a kindergarten class five years from now.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Ema against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Ema in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Ema is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Ema will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Ema is most common
Geography matters for names, and Ema is no exception. Adjusted for how many girls are born in each state, Ema is most common in FL (0.3 per 1,000), NY (0.2 per 1,000), TX (0.2 per 1,000), CA (0.2 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.1 per 1,000 girls. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Ema is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Ema
Statistically, parents drawn to Ema tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Rhema, Gema, Asma, Ela, and Elia.
RhemaGemaAsmaElaEliaZiaJiaLiya
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Ema | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 164 | #1348 |
| 2024 | 136 | #1559 |
| 2023 | 156 | #1430 |
| 2022 | 144 | #1506 |
| 2021 | 106 | #1871 |
| 2020 | 141 | #1510 |
| 2019 | 150 | #1465 |
| 2018 | 124 | #1677 |
| 2017 | 130 | #1655 |
| 2016 | 151 | #1505 |
| 2015 | 156 | #1470 |
| 2014 | 145 | #1515 |
| 2013 | 137 | #1570 |
| 2012 | 136 | #1591 |
| 2011 | 161 | #1415 |
| 2010 | 134 | #1611 |
| 2009 | 148 | #1528 |
| 2008 | 153 | #1521 |
| 2007 | 136 | #1635 |
| 2006 | 152 | #1462 |
| 2005 | 133 | #1539 |
| 2004 | 134 | #1498 |
| 2003 | 125 | #1542 |
| 2002 | 81 | #2100 |
| 2001 | 58 | #2600 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Ema?
In official American birth records, the name Ema first appeared in 1883 (over 142 years ago), when 8 newborn girls received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Ema a popular girl name?
Ema ranked #1348 among girls in 2025 with 164 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1470.
When was the name Ema most popular?
Ema peaked in 2025, when 164 American girls received the name (ranked #1348 that year). That peak is current — the name is at or near its all-time high right now.
How rare is the name Ema?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 10,976 newborn American girls was named Ema. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.