UK girl's name
Ema
A feminine given name of uncertain origin, perhaps derived from Old German meaning "industrious".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Ema is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Ema popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #776, with 48 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2017, with 71 births.
This profile covers 951 England and Wales registrations across 28 recorded years from 1997 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland and NISRA Northern Ireland, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 68% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 999 living people in the UK are called Ema. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Ema ranked #776 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 48 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2017, when 71 girls were registered as Ema.
- • Ema ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #391 in 2023.
- • About 999 living people in the UK are estimated to have Ema as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#776
2024
Births in 2024
48
Latest year
Peak year
2017
71 births
Estimated living
999
2026
Meaning
What does Ema mean?
The name Ema has its origins in the Hebrew language, derived from the biblical name Emma, which means "whole" or "universal." The earliest recorded use of the name Ema dates back to ancient Judaic traditions, where it was commonly used as a feminine name.
In the Old Testament, there are references to a woman named Ema, though little is known about her historical significance. The name gained popularity among Jewish communities in the Middle East and Europe, particularly during the Middle Ages.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Ema was Ema of Fulda, a 9th-century Benedictine nun and writer from the Carolingian Empire. She is notable for her contributions to the preservation of ancient texts and her work as a scribe.
In the 12th century, Ema of Lesum was a notable German mystic and abbess who founded the Benedictine convent of Lesum near Bremen. Her writings and teachings on spirituality were influential during her time.
During the Renaissance, Ema Freyse, born in 1497, was a German artist known for her intricate woodcut illustrations and engravings. Her work adorned many religious texts and publications of the era.
In the 18th century, Ema Lazowska was a Polish noblewoman and philanthropist known for her efforts in promoting education and supporting the arts. She founded several schools and cultural institutions in her home country.
Another notable figure was Ema Mikulić, a 19th-century Croatian writer and activist who advocated for women's rights and education. Her novels and essays shed light on the struggles and challenges faced by women in her society.
While the name Ema has ancient roots, it has maintained its popularity across various cultures and time periods, with many individuals bearing this name leaving their mark on history through their contributions in various fields.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Ema over time
The chart below shows babies named Ema registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Ema, the clearest high point is 2017. The latest England and Wales figure is 48 births in 2024, compared with 71 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ema by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Ema was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #750 | 244 | 5 |
| 2010s | #767 | 520 | 10 |
| 2000s | #1486 | 171 | 10 |
| 1990s | #2820 | 16 | 3 |
Geography
Where Ema is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Ema. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Ema ranks best in Northern Ireland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #391 in 2023.
Across the UK
Ema in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#760 in 2022
5 years of NRS records, 17 total registered
Northern Ireland (NISRA)
#391 in 2023
9 years of NISRA records, 36 total registered
Related
Names similar to Ema
- Emily 121,621
- Ella 69,101
- Ellie 63,522
- Evie 52,944
- Emma 50,755
- Eleanor 40,576
- Elizabeth 39,225
- Erin 34,816
- Eva 29,738
- Evelyn 26,911
- Elsie 23,671
- Emilia 22,167
FAQ
Ema: questions and answers
How popular is the name Ema in the UK right now?
In 2024, Ema was ranked #776 for girls in England and Wales, with 48 births registered.
When was Ema most popular?
The peak year on record was 2017, with 71 babies registered as Ema in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Ema?
A feminine given name of uncertain origin, perhaps derived from Old German meaning "industrious".
How many people are called Ema in the UK?
A total of 951 babies have been registered as Ema across the 28 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 17 more in Scotland and 36 in Northern Ireland.
Where is Ema most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Ema ranks best in Northern Ireland, where it placed #391 in 2023. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.