Emma
Emma is a girl name of Germanic origin, meaning “Whole, universal”.
| Meaning | Whole, universal |
|---|---|
| Gender | Girl |
| Origin | Germanic |
| Pronunciation | EM-ə |
| Tradition | Modern & Classic, Christian |
| Used in | United States, France, Netherlands, Germany |
Meaning and origin of Emma
Emma started as a short form of Germanic names beginning with ermen, 'whole' or 'great', such as Ermentrude. It reached England through Emma of Normandy, who was queen to both Æthelred and Cnut in the eleventh century. Jane Austen's novel Emma (1815) gave it a literary heroine. After a long quiet period, it became one of the most popular girl's names in the world from the 1990s onward.
Is Emma a religious name?
Emma is not a biblical name, though Saint Emma of Lesum and other medieval holy women carried it. Today it is used as a secular classic across many cultures.
How popular is Emma?
Extremely popular in the US and Europe for many years.
Gifts with the name Emma
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Spellings and variants of Emma
Names similar to Emma
More girl names
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Emma mean?
Emma means 'Whole, universal'. It is of Germanic origin.
Does Emma have a religious meaning?
Emma is not a biblical name, though Saint Emma of Lesum and other medieval holy women carried it. Today it is used as a secular classic across many cultures.
How do you pronounce Emma?
Emma is pronounced EM-ə.
Is Emma a boy or girl name?
Emma is usually a girl name.