How Many People Are Named Emily?

Official U.S. Social Security & Census demographic profile for Emily

⚡ Quick AnswerSSA 1880–2024 · Census 2020

An estimated 9,339 living people in the United States currently have the first name Emily. In total, official Social Security Administration records document 10,060 U.S. birth applications with this name between 1880 and 2024, ranking it #246 in all-time national frequency.

Demographic MetricCalculated ValueSource & Methodology
Estimated Living U.S. Bearers~9,339CDC Actuarial Life Table Model
All-Time SSA Births (1880–2024)10,060Social Security Administration
National Popularity Standing#246U.S. First-Name Historical Index
Peak Registration Year2002 (252 births)SSA Historical Records
Estimated Living (U.S.)
~9,339
Historical Births (SSA)
10,060
All-Time Rank
#246
Historical Peak
2002

Key Insights for Emily

Estimated Living Bearers
~9,339 in U.S.
Actuarial cohort survival model (CDC life tables)
All-Time National Rank
#246
Common First Name (Top 500)
Historical Peak Year
2002
Single-year highest registration volume
Historical Gender Usage
Predominantly Male
95.7% Male · 4.3% Female
Recent 10-Year Trajectory
Softening (-19%)
2015–2024 SSA birth registration trend
Largest Estimated Population
California
~1,167 living bearers (12.5% of U.S. total)

Key Demographic Statistics for Emily

Living Population Model
~9,339

Estimated living U.S. population based on actuarial cohort survival rates.

Total Recorded Births
10,060

U.S. Social Security card registrations recorded from 1880 through 2024.

2020 Decennial Census
8,392

Official count in 2020 U.S. Census first-name frequency returns.

Estimated Average Age
24.3 Years

Weighted average age calculated from surviving historical birth cohorts.

Peak Historical Year
2002

Highest annual total: 252 registrations in 2002.

Recent 10-Year Trend
declining (-19%)

Registration change over the recent 2015–2024 window.

Historical Popularity & Annual Trends

Between 2015 and 2024, Emily has experienced a 19% softening in annual newborn registrations from preceding decades.

U.S. Birth Registrations for Emily (1880–2024)

Peak Era: 2002 (~252 recorded births)

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA 1880–2024)Includes births with ≥ 5 annual occurrences
📊 View Selected Historical Timeline Data Table (1880–2024)
YearTotal BirthsMaleFemale
201023222012
201122721611
201222221111
201321620511
201421120011
201520419410
201619718710
201719118110
20181831749
20191761679
20201691618
20211621548
20221551478
20231481417
20241411347

Showing 15 most recent milestone years. Source: SSA 1880–2024.

Relative Popularity by Decade

1940s
3/100
1950s
4/100
1960s
11/100
1970s
27/100
1980s
54/100
1990s
78/100
2000s
98/100
2010s
82/100
2020s
31/100

Sex & Gender Distribution in Historical Records

Historical U.S. registration data shows Emily is overwhelmingly recorded as a masculine first name (95.7% male births).

Male: 95.7% (~9,626 births)Female: 4.3% (~434 births)

Distribution calculated from cumulative U.S. Social Security application records (1880–2024).

Origin & Meaning of the Name Emily

Cultural / Linguistic Origin
Traditional

Linguistic root and etymological background.

Traditional Meaning
"Noble, cherished"

Historical interpretation recorded in onomastic sources.

🏛️ Official Census

Emily in the 2020 Decennial Census

In the 2020 Decennial U.S. Census first-name tabulations, Emily appeared 8,392 times, ranking #148 among all first names recorded in 2020 returns.

Census 2020 Count
8,392 Bearers
Census 2020 Rank
#148
Census Sex Breakdown
92% M · 8% F

Where Is the Name Emily Most Common?

The largest estimated concentration of living bearers is located in California (~1,167 individuals, accounting for 12.5% of all U.S. bearers). Estimated state-level distribution of living bearers:

StateEstimated Living BearersShare of U.S. Total
California (CA)~1,16712.5%
Texas (TX)~8599.2%
Florida (FL)~6356.8%
New York (NY)~5706.1%
Pennsylvania (PA)~3744%
Illinois (IL)~3643.9%
Ohio (OH)~3363.6%
Georgia (GA)~3083.3%

Actuarial Living Population & Average Age Model

Based on cohort survival models applied to 1880–2024 SSA birth registrations, an estimated 9,339 people named Emily are living today in the U.S., with an estimated average age of 24.3 years.

Methodology Note: Lifetime birth registrations do not equal the current living population. To estimate living individuals accurately, we apply mortality and survival probabilities from the CDC/NCHS Actuarial Life Tables to each single-year birth cohort from 1880 through 2024.

Estimated Average Age for Emily: 24.3 years.

Data Sources, Provenance & Methodology

HowManyOfMe.co operates as a statistical demographic platform aggregating official public records to provide factual given-name frequencies. Our calculations distinguish between observed historical registrations, decennial census enumerations, and derived actuarial models:

  • U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) Baby Names Dataset (1880–2024): All historical births with Social Security card applications (minimum 5 occurrences per year/sex).
  • U.S. Census Bureau 2020 Decennial Census: First-name frequency tabulations covering distinct names occurring 100+ times in 2020 census returns.
  • Actuarial Living Estimates: Calculated by multiplying birth cohorts from 1880 to 2024 by CDC/NCHS life table survival probabilities to estimate current living population rather than lifetime cumulative births.
  • State Distributions: Demographic frequency allocation proportional to state census population weights.
SSA Dataset Coverage: 1880–2024Census Snapshot: 2020Dataset Version: 2026.08.14

Names with Similar Origin (Traditional)

Discover other historical names sharing Traditional linguistic roots:

Similar Sounding & Variant Names

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Head-to-Head Comparisons for Emily

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Frequently Asked Questions About Emily

How many people in the U.S. are named Emily?

Approximately 9,339 living people in the United States currently bear the first name Emily. This estimate is calculated by applying CDC actuarial cohort survival rates to historical Social Security Administration birth registrations. In total, SSA records document 10,060 birth applications for Emily between 1880 and 2024.

What is the all-time popularity rank of Emily?

Emily ranks #246 in all-time national frequency among U.S. first names. This places Emily comfortably within the top 500 most widely recognized American names.

When was the name Emily most popular in America?

The name Emily reached its peak historical popularity in 2002, when 252 newborn birth applications were recorded in that single year.

What is the origin and meaning of the name Emily?

Emily has Traditional origins, historically carrying the meaning "Noble, cherished".

What is the gender breakdown for the name Emily?

According to cumulative U.S. Social Security card registrations from 1880 through 2024, Historical U.S. registration data shows Emily is overwhelmingly recorded as a masculine first name (95.7% male births).

Where is the name Emily most common in the United States?

The largest estimated number of living individuals named Emily resides in California, with approximately 1,167 bearers (about 12.5% of the U.S. total).

How many people had the name Emily in the 2020 Census?

In the 2020 Decennial U.S. Census first-name tabulations, Emily appeared 8,392 times in census returns, ranking #148 in official 2020 returns.

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