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Emmett

Pronunciation: [ EHM-iht ]

Boy Name #119 Most Popular Rising 2 Syllables

Irish patriot, vampire heartthrob, vintage charm

English American Irish
Vintage Strong Earthy Classic Literary

Meaning & Origin

"strong, mighty"
Origin: Old English
Language: English
"truth, from Hebrew Emmet meaning truth or faithfulness"
Origin: Hebrew
Language: English
"universal, whole"
Origin: Germanic
Language: English

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

Irish Emmet
French Emmett
German Emmett
Spanish Emmett

Famous People Named Emmett

E

Emmett Till

Other

1941

African-American teenager whose murder in 1955 became a catalyst for the American Civil Rights Movement

E

Emmett Kelly

Entertainer

1898

Legendary American circus performer known as Weary Willie, one of the most famous clowns in history

R

Robert Emmet

Activist

1778

Irish nationalist leader executed by British authorities in 1803, remembered for his speech from the dock

E

Emmett Cullen Fictional

Other

Jovial and physically powerful vampire in Stephenie Meyer's Twilight saga

E

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

Em Emmy

Pairs Well With

Emmett James Emmett Cole Emmett Ray Emmett John Emmett Gray Emmett Lee Emmett Scott

Sibling Names

Also a Girl Name

Emmett is also used as a girl name, ranked #6941.

View Emmett as a girl name →

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Frequently Asked Questions About Emmett

What does the name Emmett mean?
"strong, mighty" (from Old English). "truth, from Hebrew Emmet meaning truth or faithfulness" (from Hebrew). "universal, whole" (from Germanic). 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.
What is the origin of the name Emmett?
Emmett has Old English, Hebrew, Germanic, English, American, and Irish origins. In Old English, it means "strong, mighty". In Hebrew, it means "truth, from Hebrew Emmet meaning truth or faithfulness". In Germanic, it means "universal, whole".
Is Emmett a boy or girl name?
Emmett is used as both a boy and girl name. As a boy name, it is ranked #119. As a girl name, it is ranked #6941. Emmett is more commonly used as a boy name.
How do you pronounce Emmett?
Emmett is pronounced EHM-iht.
How popular is the name Emmett?
Emmett is currently ranked #119 in popularity for boy names in the United States.
What are common nicknames for Emmett?
Common nicknames for Emmett include Em and Emmy.
What are good middle names for Emmett?
Popular middle name pairings include Emmett James, Emmett Cole, Emmett Ray, Emmett John, Emmett Gray, Emmett Lee, and Emmett Scott.
What are good sibling names for Emmett?
Names that pair well with Emmett as siblings include Archer, Evelyn, Hazel, Finn, Clara, Theodore, and Ivy.
How many syllables does Emmett have?
Emmett has 2 syllables, making it easy to say and remember.
Is Emmett a common or rare name?
Emmett is a popular name, ranked #119 for boys. It is well-known without being overused.

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.

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