Alternative Names for Emily

Emily has proven itself to a popular girls name, if somewhat overused. Here, some alternative baby names you might want to consider instead.
  1. Aimee
    • Origin:

      Variation of Amy
    • Description:

      Amy was a 1970s favorite, and French spelling Aimee peaked in the same decade.
  2. Amelia
    • Origin:

      German
    • Meaning:

      "work"
    • Description:

      Amelia is one of the hottest girls' names, a successor to the megapopular Emma and Emily. Amelia, which spent several years at Number 1 in England, vaulted into the US Top 10 in 2017 and continues to rise.
  3. Amelie
    • Origin:

      French variation of Amelia
    • Meaning:

      "work"
    • Description:

      Emily gets a Bohemian spin and a French accent when it becomes Amelie. This favorite among French girl names has been gaining notice here thanks to the charming 2001 French film Amelie; it entered the American popularity list in 2002 and is now solidly established in the Top 1000.
  4. Berry
    • Origin:

      Nature name
    • Description:

      With the recent arrival of fruit names like Apple and Plum, this more traditional example, symbolic of fertility, might rise in popularity. Photographer Berry Berenson was born Berinthia.
  5. Cecily
    • Origin:

      Feminine variation of Cecil
    • Meaning:

      "blind"
    • Description:

      Cecily is as dainty as a lace handkerchief. Cecily has a wide assortment of namesakes. One Cecily was the mother of King Richard III, whose beauty gained her the title "the Rose of Raby," Cecily Parsley is a Beatrix Potter bunny, Cecily Cardew is a character in The Importance of Being Earnest, and the author of the Gossip Girl books is Cecily von Ziegesar.
  6. Elodie
    • Origin:

      French, variation of Alodia, German
    • Meaning:

      "foreign riches"
    • Description:

      The lyrical and melodious Elodie, a Nameberry favorite, is starting to rise through the US popularity charts for the first time since the 1880s. It's a uncommon member of the trending El- family of names, which includes Ella, Eloise, and Eleanor.
  7. Emelia
    • Origin:

      Variation of Emilia or Amelia
    • Description:

      Emelia takes elements from soundalike sisters Emilia and Amelia, which actually derive from different roots and have different meanings. So rather than cobbling the two together, it's better to make a choice. Rival or work? Latin or German? Pick a lane and stick to it.
  8. Emelie
    • Emery
      • Origin:

        English from German
      • Meaning:

        "industrious"
      • Description:

        The superpopularity of Emily and Emma has recently boosted the unisex Emery, especially since it became a celebrity baby name when it was chosen by Angie Harmon and Jason Sehorn.
    • Emma
      • Origin:

        German
      • Meaning:

        "universal"
      • Description:

        Emma has now been among the top girl names in the United States for several years, claiming the Number 1 crown in 2008 and again from 2015 to 2018 before dropping back to second place.
    • Emmeline
      • Origin:

        Old French form of archaic German Amal
      • Meaning:

        "work"
      • Description:

        Emmeline is an Emma relative and Emily cousin that is destined for greater use in the wake of the megapopularity of those two names. A recommended Nameberry fave, Emmeline hopped onto the US Top 1000 in 2014 for the first time ever. While it is genuinely an old name, it was rarely used a century ago; only 17 baby girls were named Emmeline in 1915, the same number as were named Ernie!
    • Emmi
      • Origin:

        Diminutive of Emma and Emily
      • Description:

        With the enormous popularity of Emily and Emma, we're sure to see more of Emmi, Emmie, Emme, and Emmy, whether as short forms or standing on their own.
    • Everly
      • Origin:

        English
      • Meaning:

        "wild boar in woodland clearing"
      • Description:

        Sweet and stylish, with a sporty, energetic undertone, Everly is a name that ticks lots of boxes.
    • Ivory
      • Origin:

        Word name meaning the hard, white material from the tusks and teeth of animals; can also mean "pale, white"
      • Meaning:

        "pale, white"
      • Description:

        Ivory was last popular a hundred years ago. In 2013, it finally began to regain some momentum in the female rankings, reentering the Top 1000.
    • Melody
      • Origin:

        Greek
      • Meaning:

        "song"
      • Description:

        A melodious choice big in the sixties, Melody is now starting to pick up tempo again. It cracked the Top 150 for the first time ever in 2015. Melody is also the name of Ariel's equally curious and more tom-boyish daughter in The Little Mermaid sequel. Read more about Melody and other Disney Princess Names in our featured blog.
    • Mia
      • Origin:

        Italian word name or Scandinavian short form of Maria
      • Meaning:

        "mine or bitter"
      • Description:

        Mia is an appealingly unfussy multicultural name that has enjoyed a meteoric rise up the charts and is now firmly among the ten top girl names. Mia has surpassed its mother name Maria as the Number 1 girls' name starting with M.
    • Mila
      • Origin:

        Slavic, Russian
      • Meaning:

        "gracious; dear"
      • Description:

        Mila is a popular name that took a 125 year nap, ranking in the Top 1000 in 1881 and then not ranking again until 2006, after actress Mila Kunis appeared on That 70s Show.
    • Rosemary
      • Origin:

        Latin or English
      • Meaning:

        "dew of the sea, or rosemary (herb)"
      • Description:

        Despite appearances, Rosemary is not a "smoosh" name, not even a traditional one. The name derives from two Latin terms "Ros" meaning ‘dew’ and "Marinus" "meaning "of the sea". The plant was termed ‘dew of the sea’ due to its salty texture and its ability to thrive in coastal climes. Only after the Middle Ages did the English names of Rose and Mary become interchanged with the name Rosmarinus and give us the modern name we use today.
    • Verity
      • Origin:

        Latin
      • Meaning:

        "truth"
      • Description:

        If you love Puritan virtue names and want to move beyond Hope and Faith and Grace, this is a wonderful choice, both for its meaning and its sound. A rare find here, though occasionally heard in England. It was used in Winston Graham's Poldark novels, was Madonna's name as James Bond's fencing instructor in Die Another Day, and made a brief appearance in Harry Potter. Not to mention being a fixture on British and Australian soaps. Verity also appears in one of Agatha Christie's Miss Marple mysteries.