UK girl's name
Emese
Of Hungarian origin meaning "son of Emese", indicating descent from the mythical mother-figure.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2018. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Emese is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Emese popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2018 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3985, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2011, with 5 births.
This profile covers 19 England and Wales registrations across 4 recorded years from 2009 to 2018. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, 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 100% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 19 living people in the UK are called Emese. 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 2019 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Emese ranked #3985 for girls in England and Wales in 2018, with 5 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2011, when 5 girls were registered as Emese.
- • About 19 living people in the UK are estimated to have Emese as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3985
2018
Births in 2018
5
Latest year
Peak year
2011
5 births
Estimated living
19
2026
Meaning
What does Emese mean?
The name Emese has its origins in Hungarian culture and language. It is derived from the Old Hungarian word "eme" which means "mother" or "nourishing one." The name has been in use since ancient times, with roots tracing back to the 9th century.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name Emese is found in the Hungarian Chronicles, a collection of historical texts dating back to the 13th century. According to these chronicles, Emese was the name of the mother of Álmos, the legendary ancestor of the Árpád dynasty that ruled the Kingdom of Hungary for several centuries.
In the chronicles, Emese is described as having a prophetic dream in which a turul bird (a mythical bird in Hungarian folklore) appeared and impregnated her. This dream was interpreted as a sign that her son would become the founder of a great nation, and it is believed to have played a significant role in the establishment of the Hungarian state.
The first known historical figure to bear the name Emese was Emese of Arpad, the wife of Álmos and the mother of Árpád, the semi-legendary leader who led the Hungarian conquest of the Carpathian Basin in the late 9th century. She is considered a significant figure in Hungarian mythology and folklore.
Another notable Emese in history was Emese Gábor (1914-1995), a Hungarian-American actress and singer who appeared in numerous films and television shows throughout her career. She was known for her roles in classic movies such as "Moulin Rouge" (1952) and "Lili" (1953), for which she received an Academy Award nomination.
Emese Kürti (1923-2021) was a Hungarian-American writer and journalist who authored several books on Hungarian culture and history. She was also a prominent advocate for human rights and played a key role in raising awareness about the Hungarian Revolution of 1956.
Emese Revész (born 1983) is a contemporary Hungarian writer and journalist who has received critical acclaim for her novels and short stories. Her work often explores themes of identity, belonging, and the complexities of modern life.
Emese Pál (born 1983) is a Hungarian swimmer who has represented Hungary in multiple Olympic Games. She won a gold medal in the 200-meter individual medley at the 2004 Athens Olympics and has also won several medals at World Championships and European Championships.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Emese over time
The chart below shows babies named Emese registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2009 to 2018. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Emese, the clearest high point is 2011. The latest England and Wales figure is 5 births in 2018, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Emese by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Emese 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #4012 | 15 | 3 |
| 2000s | #4564 | 4 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Emese
- 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
Emese: questions and answers
How popular is the name Emese in the UK right now?
In 2018, Emese was ranked #3985 for girls in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.
When was Emese most popular?
The peak year on record was 2011, with 5 babies registered as Emese in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Emese?
Of Hungarian origin meaning "son of Emese", indicating descent from the mythical mother-figure.
How many people are called Emese in the UK?
A total of 19 babies have been registered as Emese across the 4 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
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.