Emil
Boy name · #1267 in 2025 · Very rare
How old is the name Emil? In official American birth records, Emil has been tracked continuously since 1880, giving it 145 years of documented American history.
In 2025, 155 baby boys were named Emil, placing it at #1267 in the official national rankings. A decade ago it stood at #1369, so the name has been rising over the past ten years. Roughly one in every 11,613 boys born in 2025 was named Emil.
The 145-year story
Emil first appears in the Social Security records in 1880, when 119 boys received the name. Its peak came in 1917, when 1,004 boys were named Emil — good for #137 that year. Today's parents encounter it as a name from their grandparents’ generation, which is precisely the vintage window from which names get revived. 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 Emil per year. Source: Official national birth records.
Unlock the 5-year forecast and compare Emil against up to 5 other names.
Uniqueness: will there be another Emil in class?
On our rarity read — which blends how common Emil is today with its five-year momentum — the name reads as "very rare". A high score means genuine rarity — your Emil will likely be the only one in the room, with the occasional spelling-out as the price.
Where Emil is most common
Geography matters for names, and Emil is no exception. Adjusted for how many boys are born in each state, Emil is most common in PA (0.3 per 1,000), WA (0.3 per 1,000), NJ (0.3 per 1,000), NY (0.2 per 1,000), CA (0.1 per 1,000) — against a national average of about 0.1 per 1,000 boys. These are per-capita rates, so they show where Emil is a genuine regional favorite rather than just where the most babies are born.
Names like Emil
Statistically, parents drawn to Emil tend to be choosing among names with similar popularity arcs, era profiles, and sounds — the closest matches in our model are Basil, Elmer, Cyril, Emile, and Emory.
BasilElmerCyrilEmileEmoryWileyErvinGus
Rank history (last 25 years)
| Year | Babies named Emil | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 155 | #1267 |
| 2024 | 159 | #1243 |
| 2023 | 187 | #1128 |
| 2022 | 188 | #1125 |
| 2021 | 152 | #1253 |
| 2020 | 152 | #1233 |
| 2019 | 155 | #1226 |
| 2018 | 129 | #1364 |
| 2017 | 144 | #1264 |
| 2016 | 125 | #1399 |
| 2015 | 127 | #1369 |
| 2014 | 120 | #1402 |
| 2013 | 115 | #1433 |
| 2012 | 114 | #1448 |
| 2011 | 106 | #1510 |
| 2010 | 106 | #1525 |
| 2009 | 147 | #1218 |
| 2008 | 134 | #1294 |
| 2007 | 113 | #1433 |
| 2006 | 101 | #1501 |
| 2005 | 92 | #1535 |
| 2004 | 79 | #1629 |
| 2003 | 86 | #1497 |
| 2002 | 97 | #1357 |
| 2001 | 109 | #1221 |
Frequently asked questions
How old is the name Emil?
In official American birth records, the name Emil first appeared in 1880 (over 145 years ago), when 119 newborn boys received the name. It has over a century of continuous American history.
Is Emil a popular boy name?
Emil ranked #1267 among boys in 2025 with 155 babies given the name — outside the top 500, making it an uncommon pick. Ten years earlier it ranked #1369.
When was the name Emil most popular?
Emil peaked in 1917, when 1,004 American boys received the name (ranked #137 that year). Since 1917 the name has declined from that high.
How rare is the name Emil?
In 2025, roughly 1 in 11,613 newborn American boys was named Emil. On our rarity scale (rarity blended with momentum) we classify it as "very rare".
Data source: Official American birth records, 1880–2025, national and state files. Counts reflect registered birth records for American families.