Emmett
EM-it /ˈɛm.ɪt/
Meaning of Emmett
Emmett is an English surname derived from the given name Emma or its Germanic root ermen/irmin — 'whole' or 'universal.' The form Emmett entered use as a first name through the Irish-American community (Robert Emmett, 1778–1803, was an Irish patriot). The modern American surge is partly driven by the Twilight series character Emmett Cullen.
Current popularity of Emmett
Rankings from the most recent fully-published year in each national registry. Source links at the foot of the page.
| Registry | Year | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| United States (SSA) | 2024 | #54 |
Cultural notes
Emmett Till's name has had ongoing resonance in US civil rights discourse. Some families choose the name in his memory.
Notable bearers of Emmett
Robert Emmett (Irish patriot, 1778–1803); Emmett Till (civil rights victim, 1941–1955).
Similar names & variants
Cognates, spelling variants and close relatives. Click any name with an underline to read its own page.
Sibling-name suggestions
Names that pair stylistically with Emmett — useful as middle names or for siblings.
About this entry
Compiled by the Baby Name Finder editorial team following the rules in our Methodology and Editorial guidelines. If you spot an error, please tell us; our corrections policy is at /editorial-guidelines#corrections.
Sources
Last reviewed: 2026-05-31