Meaning: Its source is Irmen, an Ancient Germanic name meaning "Universal."
Languages: This girl's name is used in German, Dutch, English, Italian, French, Spanish and Polish.
Alternative Spellings: Ema
Variant Forms: Ima
Masculine Forms: Emmet
Source Forms: Irmen
Popularity: The name Emma ranked 9th in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of 2000-2003 Social Security Administration statistics, 134th in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census and 64th in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of the 1994 US Census.
This name was popular earlier in the 20th century, then fell off in usage, but has begun making a comeback in recent years.
Narrative: Commentators are divided on dating the introduction of Emma to Britain. This may be due to its nickname relationship to Germanic names (Irmentrude, Irmengarde and others) that were in use among the Anglo-Saxons and also were ancestors to Norman French names brought to the island by the Conquest of 1066.
Emma has been widely used in fiction. In Gustav Flaubert's 1857 novel Madame Bovary, a title character named Emma follows a path of romantic irresponsibility to a pointless death. Television screens sizzled to the adventures of Emma Peel, played by Diana Rigg, in the 1960s British series The Avengers. And Jane Austen's humorous 1816 drawing-room romance Emma has seen several recent television and film incarnations.
Arts and Music
- Emma Lou Diemer (born 1927)
American composer and organist.
- Wrote ''''Suite for Orchestra'''' (see list of Composers of the 20th Century)
- Emma Stebbins (born 1815, died 1882)
American sculptor.
- Produced the bronze statue Angel of the Waters (see list of Neoclassical Artists)
Leadership
- Emma (born 1858, died 1934)
Queen of the Netherlands, 1879-90.
- Acted as regent for her daughter, Wilhelmina (see list of Miscellaneous Political Leaders)
- Emma Goldman (born 1869, died 1940)
Lithuanian-born anarchist, feminist, lecturer, and writer.
- Twice imprisoned for anarchist activities in America; deported to Russia in 1919 (see list of Noted Social Reformers and Educators)
- Emma Hart Willard (born 1787, died 1870)
American educator, activist, and writer.
- Pioneer in the establishment of institutions for the higher education of women (see list of Noted Social Reformers and Educators)
Miscellaneous
- Emma Booth
- Canadian model (see list of Fashion Models)
- Emma
- Variety of rose (see list of Rose Names)
- Emma Gamboa
- 1950 Mademoiselle Award winner (see list of Mademoiselle Award Winners)
Science and Philosophy
- Emma Perry Carr (born 1880, died 1972)
American chemist.
- Known for her spectroscopic studies of organic molecules (see list of Chemists)
Sports
- Emma Jaeger
- Member of the Women''s International Bowling Congress Hall of Fame (see list of Women's International Bowling Congress Hall of Fame)
- Emma Phaler
- Member of the Women''s International Bowling Congress Hall of Fame (see list of Women's International Bowling Congress Hall of Fame)
Stage and Screen
- Emma Caulfield
American actress.
- Portrays Susan Keates (see list of Actors on ''Beverly Hills 90210'')
- Emma
Characters with this name appeared in films directed by Woody Allen.
- Portrayed by Dianne Wiest (see list of Characters in the film The Purple Rose of Cairo)
- Portrayed by Anette Poivre (see list of Characters in the film What's New, Pussycat)
- Emma Peel
Fictional character.
- Portrayed by Diana Rigg (see list of Characters on ''The Avengers'')
- Emma Snyder
Fictional character.
- Character on the soap opera ''''As the World Turns'''' (see list of Characters on ''As The World Turns'')
- Emma Thompson (born 1959)
English actress and writer.
- 1992 Academy Award winner for her performance in Howards End (see list of Oscar Winners for Best Actress)
The Literary World
- Emma Lazarus (born 1849, died 1887)
American poet.
- Wrote ''''The New Colossus,'''' which is engraved on the base of the Statue of Liberty (see list of Poets of the Victorian Era)
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| Ema | ![]() |
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| Emmi | ![]() |
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| Emmie | ![]() |
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| Emmy | ![]() |
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| Emi | ![]() |
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| Ena | ![]() |
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| Euna | ![]() |
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| Eamon | ![]() |
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| Eamonn | ![]() |
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| Ean | ![]() |
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| Euan | ![]() |
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| Ewan | ![]() |
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| Ewen | ![]() |
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| Eino | ![]() |
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| Enu | ![]() |
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| Enya | ![]() |
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| Eunan | ![]() |
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| Enu | ![]() |
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| Elaine | ![]() |
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| Ellen | ![]() |
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| Esther | ![]() |
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| Ethel | ![]() |
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| Eva | ![]() |
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| Eddie | ![]() |
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| Edwin | ![]() |
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Teasing Nicknames:
- Enema
- Embryo
- Emmanem
- Shmemma
- M & M
- Dilemma









