Emerson

Updated: September 30, 2023 by Stephanie Graham

Emerson was a surname in Old England, as seen in the name of the famous poet, Ralph Waldo Emerson. The name transitioned to a first name throughout historical English times, becoming used for sons that were named to people called Emery. Though only on the Social Security Index since 2002, the name Emerson is one of the most popular for both boys and girls today.

Meaning and Origin of the Name Emerson

The baby name Emerson has Old English as well as Germanic origins and is associated with bravery ad power. Emerson means “powerful,” “brave,” and “child of Emery.” It originated from in Northern England with the root name “Emery,” which is a German name. Emerson was originally a surname. Surnames were based on occupation or association. The name Emerson was created to show the person was the son of Emery or Emer. It has since been used as a first name for either boys or girls.

Nicknames for Emerson

The baby name Emerson is a wholesome name, and in modern times, it has a bit of quirkiness to it. It is best reserved for those children who will have an outgoing personality and who will be fun to be around. When you're trying to think of a nickname for the Emerson in your life, feel free to get inspired by some of the nicknames we've compiled below.

Emery
Em
Emmy
Sonny
Emma
Emmo
Mercy

Emerson Name Details

Style: Traditional

Gender: Neutral

Pronunciation: EH-mer-suhn

Syllables: Three

Alternative Spelling for Emerson

Emmerson
Emersyn
Emmersyn
Emmersen
Emersen

Emerson Name Popularity

The name Emerson found its way to the Social Security Popularity Index in the year 2002, ranking at number 833. It entered the top 200 list just in 2014, at number 196. Now, the name ranks at number 155 as of the year 2020.