Emma

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Emma

Gender: Feminine.
Language: English.
Etymology:
Emma is a Germanic name. It originally meant “Whole,” from “erman,” or “Universal.”

History:
Emma was brought to England by Emma of Normandy (986-1052), the daughter of Richard I, Duke of Normandy. She married King Ethelred the Unready of England in 1002. It was fairly popular after the Norman Invasion of 1066, though declined later and was replaced by Em. Emma resurfaced in the 18th century.

Pronunciation: em-ah

Diminutives: Em, Emmy.

Alternates:
Hawaiian: Ema.
Hungarian: Ema.

Famous Bearers:
Artists and Authors:
Emma Southworth (1819-1899)
American novelist.
Emma Lazarus (1849-1887)
American poet.

Educators, Scholars, and Social Workers:
Emma Willard (1787-1870)
American educator. Founded the Troy Female Seminary.
Emma Jacobina Christiana Marwedel (1818-1893)
German-American advocate of kindergartens.

Fictional Characters:
Emma Woodhouse
From Jane Austen’s novel Emma.
Emma Peel
From the television show The Avengers.

Political Figures:
Emma Goldman (1869-1940)
Famous anarchist.

Royalty:
Emma of Normandy (986-1052)
Wife to King Ethelred the Unready of England, and later, King Canute of Denmark, King of England.

Singers and Entertainers:
Emma Cecilia Thursby (1845-1931)
American singer.
Emma Calvé (1858-1942)
American opera singer.
Emma Nevada (Wixom) (1859-1940)
American opera singer.
Emma Eames (1865-1952)
American singer.
Emma Thompson (1959-)
English actress.

Popularity:
Percentage from the 1990 U.S. Census:
0.165 % named Emma

Popularity of Emma:
Popularity (for newborns):
In the United States...
1850: 10th most popular.
1875: 2nd most popular.
1900-1910: 29th most popular.
1910-1920: 39th most popular.
1920-1930: 58th most popular.
1930-1940: 84th most popular.
1940-1950: 124th most popular.
1950-1960: 207th most popular.
1960-1970: 323rd most popular.
1970-1980: 420th most popular.
1980-1990: 270th most popular.
1990: 132nd most popular.
1991: 125th most popular.
1992: 103rd most popular.
1993: 82nd most popular.
1994: 73rd most popular.
1995: 67th most popular.
1996: 52nd most popular.
1997: 37th most popular.
1998: 21st most popular.
1999: 17th most popular.
2000: 17th most popular.
2001: 13th most popular.
2002: 4th most popular.
2003: 2nd most popular.

In France...
1900: 44th most popular.
1910: 61st most popular.
1920: 91st most popular.
1930: 123rd most popular.
1940-1990: N/A
2000: 5th most popular.

In Ireland...
1998: 5th most popular.
1999: 6th most popular.
2000: 4th most popular.
2001: 3rd most popular.
2002: 4th most popular.
2003: 1st most popular.