"strong, mighty"
Emmett
Pronunciation: [ EHM-iht ]
Irish patriot, vampire heartthrob, vintage charm
Meaning & Origin
"truth, from Hebrew Emmet meaning truth or faithfulness"
"universal, whole"
The Story of Emmett
Emmett is an English given name with Germanic roots, derived from the Old Germanic name Emma/Emme, related to the element 'ermen' meaning whole or universal. The '-ett' suffix is an Old French diminutive form. As a surname-style given name, Emmett has Irish resonance through Robert Emmet, the celebrated Irish patriot executed in 1803, whose name became iconic in Irish-American communities.
Emmett saw a sharp revival in the US after 2008, when it appeared as the lovable vampire Emmett Cullen in Stephenie Meyer's Twilight saga. The name also benefits from the broad trend toward vintage names ending in -ett (like Everett, Bennett, and Elliott) and the nostalgic appeal of Doc Brown's dog Copernicus (called Einstein in the movie Back to the Future was changed, but Emmett was Doc's first name).
Robert Emmet (1778-1803) was a United Irishman whose romantic execution speech became one of the most famous in Irish history, making Emmett a name of patriotic resonance in Irish-American households. The Cullen vampire from Twilight gave it pop culture swagger for a new generation.
Fun Facts
- Robert Emmet's name became so beloved that thousands of Irish-American families named sons after him throughout the 19th century
- Emmett Cullen from Twilight helped push the name back into the top 200 US boy names
- Doc Emmett Brown from Back to the Future (1985) gave the name an endearing nerdy association
Emmett in Other Languages
Famous People Named Emmett
Emmett Till
Other
1941
African-American teenager whose murder in 1955 became a catalyst for the American Civil Rights Movement
Emmett Kelly
Entertainer
1898
Legendary American circus performer known as Weary Willie, one of the most famous clowns in history
Robert Emmet
Activist
1778
Irish nationalist leader executed by British authorities in 1803, remembered for his speech from the dock
Emmett Cullen Fictional
Other
Jovial and physically powerful vampire in Stephenie Meyer's Twilight saga
Emmett Brown Fictional
Other
The eccentric inventor Doc Brown in the Back to the Future film trilogy (played by Christopher Lloyd)
Quick Facts
- Gender
- Boy
- Syllables
- 2
- Popularity Rank
- #119
- Total SSA Count
- 3,001
- Cultural Origins
- English American Irish
- Pronunciation
- Easy
- Formality
- Moderate
- Cross-Cultural Ease
- Moderate
Alternative Spellings
Common Nicknames
Pairs Well With
Sibling Names
Also a Girl Name
Emmett is also used as a girl name, ranked #6941.
View Emmett as a girl name →Similar Names
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Frequently Asked Questions About Emmett
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About the Name Emmett
Emmett is a boy name with English, American, and Irish origins . The name means "strong, mighty" in Old English .
Is Emmett a boy or girl name? Emmett is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it ranks #119 in popularity. As a girl name, it ranks #6,941. Emmett is more commonly used as a boy name.
Emmett is currently ranked #119 in popularity for boy names in the United States.
The name Emmett has 2 syllables and is pronounced EHM-iht, making it easy to pronounce and remember.
Common nicknames for Emmett include Em and Emmy. These shorter forms provide casual alternatives while keeping the elegance of the full name.
Alternative spellings of Emmett include Emmet, Emmerson . Each spelling variation gives the name a slightly different character while preserving its sound and meaning.