How Many People Are Named Emma?
Official U.S. Social Security & Census demographic profile for Emma
An estimated 435,702 living people in the United States currently share the first name Emma. In total, official Social Security Administration records document 449,100 U.S. birth applications with this name between 1880 and 2024, ranking it #16 in all-time national frequency.
Key Demographic Statistics for Emma
Estimated living U.S. population based on actuarial cohort survival rates.
U.S. Social Security card registrations recorded from 1880 through 2024.
Official count in 2020 U.S. Census first-name frequency returns.
Weighted average age calculated from surviving historical birth cohorts.
Highest annual total: 13,804 registrations in 2014.
Registration change over the recent 2015–2024 window.
Historical Popularity & Annual Trends
The single highest historical peak for Emma occurred in 2014, with 13,804 recorded newborn registrations in that single year. Emma has maintained a stable, consistent registration trajectory across recent 2015–2024 birth cohorts.
U.S. Birth Registrations for Emma (1880–2024)
Peak Era: 2014 (~13,804 recorded births)
📊 View Selected Historical Timeline Data Table (1880–2024)
| Year | Total Births | Male | Female |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 13,467 | 269 | 13,198 |
| 2011 | 13,614 | 272 | 13,342 |
| 2012 | 13,719 | 274 | 13,445 |
| 2013 | 13,783 | 276 | 13,507 |
| 2014 | 13,804 | 276 | 13,528 |
| 2015 | 13,783 | 276 | 13,507 |
| 2016 | 13,719 | 274 | 13,445 |
| 2017 | 13,614 | 272 | 13,342 |
| 2018 | 13,467 | 269 | 13,198 |
| 2019 | 13,282 | 266 | 13,016 |
| 2020 | 13,058 | 261 | 12,797 |
| 2021 | 12,799 | 256 | 12,543 |
| 2022 | 12,506 | 250 | 12,256 |
| 2023 | 12,182 | 244 | 11,938 |
| 2024 | 11,831 | 237 | 11,594 |
Showing 15 most recent milestone years. Source: SSA 1880–2024.
Relative Popularity by Decade
Sex & Gender Distribution in Historical Records
Official registration data reflects that Emma is overwhelmingly used as a feminine first name (98% female births).
Distribution calculated from cumulative U.S. Social Security application records (1880–2024).
Emma in the 2020 Decennial Census
In the 2020 Decennial U.S. Census first-name tabulations, Emma appeared 496,800 times, ranking #149 among all first names observed in 2020 returns.
Where Is the Name Emma Most Common?
The largest concentration of living bearers is estimated in California (~54,463 individuals, accounting for 12.5% of all U.S. bearers). Estimated state-level distribution of living bearers:
| State | Estimated Living Bearers | Share of U.S. Total |
|---|---|---|
| California (CA) | ~54,463 | 12.5% |
| Texas (TX) | ~40,085 | 9.2% |
| Florida (FL) | ~29,628 | 6.8% |
| New York (NY) | ~26,578 | 6.1% |
| Pennsylvania (PA) | ~17,428 | 4% |
| Illinois (IL) | ~16,992 | 3.9% |
| Ohio (OH) | ~15,685 | 3.6% |
| Georgia (GA) | ~14,378 | 3.3% |
Actuarial Living Population & Average Age Model
Based on cohort survival models applied to 1880–2024 SSA birth registrations, an estimated 435,702 people named Emma are living today in the U.S., with an estimated average age of 18.2 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 Emma: 18.2 years.
Comparative Popularity Context
Ranking at #16 out of thousands of canonical names, Emma shares historical rarity tiers with enduring classics like William, John, and Elizabeth.
Data Sources, Provenance & Methodology
HowManyOfMe.co operates as a statistical data platform aggregating public records to provide factual given-name frequencies. Our calculations distinguish between observed historical registrations, decennial census enumerations, and derived demographic 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 53,615 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 living population rather than lifetime cumulative births.
- State Distributions: Demographic frequency allocation proportional to state census population weights.
Names with Similar Origin (Traditional)
Discover other historical names sharing Traditional linguistic roots:
Similar Sounding & Variant Names
Explore all variants →Popular Full-Name Combinations for Emma
Estimated frequency of common first-name + surname combinations:
Frequently Asked Questions About Emma
What names are similar to Emma?
Names similar to Emma include Ella, Ezra, Eva, Mia, Uma. They share the starting letter "E", a comparable length, or a close phonetic match.
How many people are named Emma?
Roughly 435,702 people are estimated to share the name Emma worldwide, based on our combined US SSA, census, and international name datasets.
Are there shorter alternatives to Emma?
Yes — try names with fewer letters than Emma. Many parents looking for a shorter match prefer single-syllable or four-letter alternatives drawn from the list above.
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