Emerson
Boy name · #254 in 2025 · Distinctive
How old is the name Emerson? In official American birth records, Emerson has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
Emerson is currently the #254 boy name in the United States — 1,371 babies received it in 2025. A decade ago it stood at #300, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 1,313 boys born in 2025 was named Emerson.
The 145-year story
Emerson first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 25 boys received the name. Its all-time peak is essentially right now: 2025, with 1,371 babies and a rank of #254. 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.
Babies named Emerson per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Emerson against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Emerson in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Emerson is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "distinctive". That middle band is the sweet spot many parents hunt for: recognizable without being everywhere.
Where Emerson is most common
Geography matters for names, and Emerson is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Emerson is most common in NH (2.2 per 1,000), AL (1.6 per 1,000), KS (1.6 per 1,000), TN (1.5 per 1,000), WI (1.4 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.9 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Emerson is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Emerson
Statistically, parents drawn to Emerson tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Kayson, Benson, Lawson, Samson, and Jameson.
KaysonBensonLawsonSamsonJamesonGreysonColsonKyson
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Emerson | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,371 | #254 |
| 2024 | 1,276 | #270 |
| 2023 | 1,261 | #268 |
| 2022 | 1,269 | #274 |
| 2021 | 1,239 | #277 |
| 2020 | 1,276 | #268 |
| 2019 | 1,344 | #269 |
| 2018 | 1,242 | #284 |
| 2017 | 1,322 | #276 |
| 2016 | 1,226 | #295 |
| 2015 | 1,203 | #300 |
| 2014 | 1,056 | #324 |
| 2013 | 979 | #331 |
| 2012 | 838 | #363 |
| 2011 | 737 | #387 |
| 2010 | 636 | #430 |
| 2009 | 639 | #437 |
| 2008 | 585 | #472 |
| 2007 | 537 | #493 |
| 2006 | 469 | #538 |
| 2005 | 387 | #585 |
| 2004 | 267 | #717 |
| 2003 | 264 | #709 |
| 2002 | 223 | #774 |
| 2001 | 225 | #762 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Emerson?
In official American birth records, the name Emerson first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 25 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Emerson a popular boy name?
Emerson ranked #254 among boys in 2025 with 1,371 babies given the name — inside the top 500: established but not ubiquitous. Ten years earlier it ranked #300.
When was the name Emerson most popular?
Emerson peaked in 2025, when 1,371 American boys received the name (ranked #254 that year). That peak is current — the name is at or near its all-time high right now.
How rare is the name Emerson?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 1,313 newborn American boys was named Emerson. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "distinctive".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.