Emerson

sesigs · June 2012

I hear a lot of people mention that this name is "trendy" and gaining popularity. I would be really interested to hear where people are from that this name is popular. I live in New England (MA specifically) and I have never met anyone with this name. It could be that it isn't popular in my area but it could be that I am a FTM and just don't know many people having babies! I ask because it is on our short list right now. I'm not against using popular names (though I wouldn't go out of my way to) but at the same time I don't want LO to show up to pre-school and have 5 others kids with the same name there!

Cranang · June 2012

I think it's a great name for a boy. I HATE it as a girl's name.

I don't think it's too trendy at all. I'm from the south though. So that rules out the southeast and northeast...LOL

sesigs · June 2012

Cranang:
I think it's a great name for a boy. I HATE it as a girl's name.

I don't think it's too trendy at all. I'm from the south though. So that rules out the southeast and northeast...LOL

Lol, so it must be popular west of the Mississippi!

CiderWench · June 2012

I'm also in the south and it is not popular in my area. I think Emerson is cute for a boy only.

RRL2012 · June 2012

I love it for a girl!!! This is my friend's top name if she has a girl. I could not picture this name on a boy, even though traditionally it is a boy name (Emer's Son)

chibride4 · June 2012

I'd characterize Emerson as trendy, but not necessarily popular. I say this b/c Emerson fits into two existing trends: boy names on girls and girl names that start with a vowel. Emme, a common nn for Emerson, will likely get grouped together with all the Emmas and Emilys out there. While I highly doubt there will be five Emersons in one class (this phenomenom of our generation rarely happens today due to more name choices), I do have two baby cousins named Emerson who live near me. They're both girls; I've never met a boy Emerson (or Emery for that matter).

BG09 · June 2012

I know one little boy named Emerson. They live in South Dakota. I think it's a cute name.

broomy · June 2012

I've only met/known of a few Emersons here, and they were all girls.

Cranang · June 2012

I hate that trend. If a name ends in "son", it's ONLY a boy's name. Sheesh.

melody921 · June 2012

I think it's becoming trendy for girls. I agree with PPs who say it should only be a boy's name, but the problem now is that even if you name a boy Emerson, he'll likely have a girl with the same name in his class. I'd skip it.

jlh2716 · June 2012

I'm from OK and haven't run into anyone with this name. I've only seen it on TB.

kandrze1 · June 2012

Sorry this bugs me. I guess I might take it a little personally...haha. But the "son" argument doesn't fly with me. Allison means son of something can't remember off the top of my head, but it's considered a girls name. My DD is an Emerson with nicknames Em and Emmie. The only other Emerson's I know are girls. Its a matter of opinion I guess.

queenbone · June 2012

I'm in the PNW and have never met one. I do know a bumpie who is from the south who named her daughter Emerson.

My preference is that this is a boy name.

aubreyan · June 2012

How many people you know with a name is not always a good way to gauge name popularity.

This graph tell me it's trendy.

https://www.babynamewizard.com/voyager#prefix=emerson&ms=false&exact=false

I also think it's trendy because it has become another "spell however you want name" examples include: Emmerson, Emersun, Emersyn (vomit)

It is also trendy because it hits two major name trends the EM - names for girls (Emily, Emma, Emerson, Emme, Emelia, Emery, Emmeline) AND it is a boy name being used on girls (Riley, Logan, Taylor, Elliot, Ryan, Addison, Madison, Quinn, Reese, etc)

It is trendy and gaining in popularity. Certainly not my kind of name, but when spelled correctly it's not my most hated baby girl name ever.

Aligator28 · June 2012

Joy2611:
Cranang:
I hate that trend. If a name ends in "son", it's ONLY a boy's name. Sheesh.

I love you.

Emerson means son of Emery. Your girl is going to be a daughter so it kinda makes no sense to give her a name that means son. Y'know?

This! 100% this!

I'm in Louisiana, and I have heard this name several times on girls. I think it's terrible.

AimeeL85 · June 2012

I agree. I love girls names that end in -son including Emerson.

My son's name is Ryan and it means "little King." We're not royalty, so was it wrong of me to use that name?

Cranang · June 2012

Joy2611:

kandrze1:
Sorry this bugs me. I guess I might take it a little personally...haha. But the "son" argument doesn't fly with me. Allison means son of something can't remember off the top of my head, but it's considered a girls name. My DD is an Emerson with nicknames Em and Emmie. The only other Emerson's I know are girls. Its a matter of opinion I guess.

Alison is a variant of Alice. It's probably the only -son name that does not fit the trend. Do the research first.

https://www.behindthename.com/name/alison

True dat. Boom!

sesigs · June 2012

aubreyan:
How many people you know with a name is not always a good way to gauge name popularity.
This graph tell me it's trendy.
https://www.babynamewizard.com/voyager#prefix=emerson&ms=false&exact=false
I also think it's trendy because it has become another "spell however you want name" examples include: Emmerson, Emersun, Emersyn (vomit)
It is also trendy because it hits two major name trends the EM - names for girls (Emily, Emma, Emerson, Emme, Emelia, Emery, Emmeline) AND it is a boy name being used on girls (Riley, Logan, Taylor, Elliot, Ryan, Addison, Madison, Quinn, Reese, etc)
It is trendy and gaining in popularity. Certainly not my kind of name, but when spelled correctly it's not my most hated baby girl name ever.

Oh wow. Not a fan of ANY of those those alternate spellings. Yuck. You're right about names being trendy because of the "spell it however you want" phenomenon though ... Definitely not for me.

AimeeL85 · June 2012

kandrze1:
Sorry this bugs me. I guess I might take it a little personally...haha. But the "son" argument doesn't fly with me. Allison means son of something can't remember off the top of my head, but it's considered a girls name. My DD is an Emerson with nicknames Em and Emmie. The only other Emerson's I know are girls. Its a matter of opinion I guess.

This is what I meant to quote in my response.

plunderb · June 2012

Emerson is more popular than average for girls in MA: in 2011 it was #276 nationally and #165 in MA (37 uses). It's also more popular than average for boys: #387 nationally vs. #294 in MA (17 uses). Maybe we have an unusual concentration of Ralph Waldo Emerson fans? I dunno.

Emerson achieves its highest rank in Kentucky (#133) followed by Colorado (#134), Tennessee (#142), Iowa (#154), and Massachusetts. It's not quite as popular in the other New England states (#198 in NH, #212 in CT, fewer than 5 uses in ME, RI, and VT).

kandrze1 · June 2012

Joy2611:
kandrze1:
Sorry this bugs me. I guess I might take it a little personally...haha. But the "son" argument doesn't fly with me. Allison means son of something can't remember off the top of my head, but it's considered a girls name. My DD is an Emerson with nicknames Em and Emmie. The only other Emerson's I know are girls. Its a matter of opinion I guess.

Alison is a variant of Alice. It's probably the only -son name that does not fit the trend. Do the research first.
https://www.behindthename.com/name/alison

I actually did do the research. Allison "The meaning of the name Allison is Son Of The Noble One" Maybe Alison is different...

https://www.babynames.com/name/ALLISON

sesigs · June 2012

plunderb:
Emerson is more popular than average for girls in MA: in 2011 it was #276 nationally and #165 in MA (37 uses). It's also more popular than average for boys: #387 nationally vs. #294 in MA (17 uses). Maybe we have an unusual concentration of Ralph Waldo Emerson fans? I dunno.
Emerson achieves its highest rank in Kentucky (#133) followed by Colorado (#134), Tennessee (#142), Iowa (#154), and Massachusetts. It's not quite as popular in the other New England states (#198 in NH, #212 in CT, fewer than 5 uses in ME, RI, and VT).

Interesting! Thank you for the stats! I really do think the reason I haven't heard it much is because this is my first baby and I am one of the very first of my friends to start procreating haha. I am not surprised about more popularity in MA. My FI actually thought of the name because of Ralph Waldo Emerson (he is an an English professor).

Mnerani · June 2012

Another reason it's trendy is because of the popularity of names ending in "-son." I'm not making a value judgement on whether trendy is bad or good, just giving another explanation.

chibride4 · June 2012

Joy2611:
kandrze1:
Joy2611:
kandrze1:
Sorry this bugs me. I guess I might take it a little personally...haha. But the "son" argument doesn't fly with me. Allison means son of something can't remember off the top of my head, but it's considered a girls name. My DD is an Emerson with nicknames Em and Emmie. The only other Emerson's I know are girls. Its a matter of opinion I guess.

Alison is a variant of Alice. It's probably the only -son name that does not fit the trend. Do the research first.
https://www.behindthename.com/name/alison

I actually did do the research. Allison "The meaning of the name Allison is Son Of The Noble One" Maybe Alison is different...
https://www.babynames.com/name/ALLISON
Alison is different than Allison. I can't help that parents don't take these things into consideration when they name their kids. Some think names are a free-for-all of letters.
I think you're taking this personally because you named your daughter Emerson. It's fine and if it works for you, then great. But, I think it's nice for other people considering the names to know all the facts before making a final decision.

FWIW, my sister is named Alison with one "L" and up until recent years, this speliing was FAR less common than Allison. She could never find personalized items spelled her way and she was always correcting people. I guarantee that my parents didn't choose this spelling b/c it was gender correct; they just fell in love with the name. This is the way naming your LO should be.

Along the same lines, DS1 is Jackson even though DH isn't named Jack. For shame! Rather both of our grandpas were Jacks. Should he be Jackgreatgrandson??

OP, I think Emerson is nice for a girl regardless of gender rules (besides, Behind the Name says it's a UNISEX name) and the fact that your DH is an English professor makes me like this name even more for your DD

emaddock · June 2012

It is my guilty pleasure girl name. I love it

evaazalea · June 2012

I just feel its trendy bc I only recently started hearing it, it will be a time stamped name, it has just picked up so much steam in recent years.

Cranang · June 2012

TysMomPlusOne:
I just feel its trendy bc I only recently started hearing it, it will be a time stamped name, it has just picked up so much steam in recent years.

Awesome point.

sesigs · June 2012

chibride4:
Joy2611:
kandrze1:
Joy2611:
kandrze1:
Sorry this bugs me. I guess I might take it a little personally...haha. But the "son" argument doesn't fly with me. Allison means son of something can't remember off the top of my head, but it's considered a girls name. My DD is an Emerson with nicknames Em and Emmie. The only other Emerson's I know are girls. Its a matter of opinion I guess.

Alison is a variant of Alice. It's probably the only -son name that does not fit the trend. Do the research first.
https://www.behindthename.com/name/alison

I actually did do the research. Allison "The meaning of the name Allison is Son Of The Noble One" Maybe Alison is different...
https://www.babynames.com/name/ALLISON
Alison is different than Allison. I can't help that parents don't take these things into consideration when they name their kids. Some think names are a free-for-all of letters.
I think you're taking this personally because you named your daughter Emerson. It's fine and if it works for you, then great. But, I think it's nice for other people considering the names to know all the facts before making a final decision.
FWIW, my sister is named Alison with one "L" and up until recent years, this speliing was FAR less common than Allison. She could never find personalized items spelled her way and she was always correcting people. I guarantee that my parents didn't choose this spelling b/c it was gender correct; they just fell in love with the name. This is the way naming your LO should be.
Along the same lines, DS1 is Jackson even though DH isn't named Jack. For shame! Rather both of our grandpas were Jacks. Should he be Jackgreatgrandson??
OP, I think Emerson is nice for a girl regardless of gender rules (besides, Behind the Name says it's a UNISEX name) and the fact that your DH is an English professor makes me like this name even more for your DD

I much prefer it for a girl despite the meaning. I just lean towards Em or Emme as nn when I hear the name which are obviously feminine. DH even suggested using it for a boy OR a girl since it is technically unisex (unpopular opinion lol) now but based on PPs it seems more used on girls so I don't know about that! We both love it and are going for literary connections with our names because of DH's profession

salt78 · June 2012

I know one Emerson. He's a little boy. I don't care for it on a girl at all.

sesigs · June 2012

TysMomPlusOne:
I just feel its trendy bc I only recently started hearing it, it will be a time stamped name, it has just picked up so much steam in recent years.

Time stamped as in when people hear it in 20 years they'll know she was a baby born around this time? Like how certain names were trendy in the 80s but not widely used now?

kimberlymautz · June 2012

I love Emerson for a GIRL. I think it would look silly on a boy. I would probably call someone with this name Em, and I don't think a boy would like to be called Em since it's so popular with the Emmas and Emilys. It was on my top 5 list when I found out I was having a girl. And I still love it.

CTA7 · June 2012

Cranang:
I hate that trend. If a name ends in "son", it's ONLY a boy's name. Sheesh.

Emersdotter for the gender police out there. Confused

In answer to the question, I've heard of it in the friend-of-a-friend context. But in general I do not like the let's-pick-a-random-last-name trend. So I'd say thumbs-down, unless you're a big Ralph Waldo fan.

capulet · June 2012

kimberlymautz:
I love Emerson for a GIRL. I think it would look silly on a boy. I would probably call someone with this name Em, and I don't think a boy would like to be called Em since it's so popular with the Emmas and Emilys. It was on my top 5 list when I found out I was having a girl. And I still love it.

If Emerson were not so popular for girls, this would sound silly to me. It's like saying Julius should be a girl name because you might give someone named Julius the nickname Julie. Never mind that -us is almost always a masculine ending in Latin, just like -son is a masculine ending in English, or was back when people still spoke it.

winterjunkie · June 2012

I help out in the 2 year old room at my church (in PA) and we have 2 boys and 1 girl names Emerson.

LaurelBee · June 2012

I love it on a boy or girl personally. I think the meaning behind the name should only go so far. (it reminds me of the Jewish couple who wanted to use Noelle.) I say if you love the name, ignore the other comments about it being a boy's name. Lauren and Ashley used to be boy names too. Times change.

evaazalea · June 2012

sesigs:
TysMomPlusOne:
I just feel its trendy bc I only recently started hearing it, it will be a time stamped name, it has just picked up so much steam in recent years.
Time stamped as in when people hear it in 20 years they'll know she was a baby born around this time? Like how certain names were trendy in the 80s but not widely used now?

Yes, like if I told you my name was Tiffany you would have a good guess of how old I might be.

Pokedot · June 2012

I heard this name at least 10 years ago and fell in love with it for a girl. I realize that technically it is a "boys" name but to me it has a girl context to it. Our LO will have this name if a girl and we're dead set on it!

It isn't popular in our area either FYI. I know of no one with this name in my area, Upper MI.

aeh72 · June 2012

Emerson doesn't strike me as one of those names where there will be five in one class, but I definitely think it's the kind of name that when you see it, it could just as easily be on a little girl or on a little boy, if that makes a difference to you when picking a name.

SummerMama12 · June 2012

The only one I know is a girl, and her mom is a literature professor. She chose this name based on the literary association years ago, way before any trend. I love it. For her, it totally fits.

BabySmiles31 · June 2012

Cranang:
I hate that trend. If a name ends in "son", it's ONLY a boy's name. Sheesh.

I agree! And why are we naming girls with boy names, anyway??

IVFBeliever · June 2012

It's #1 on our girls list!!!

We know a boy Emerson and a girl who spelled it Emmerson (with 2 M's) which I personally thought was pretty cool. But hey thats me. I like different names with different spellings. And I really really like unisex names.

I associate Emerson with a girl.

Regardless what we all think, when your DD is born everyone around you will start associating Emerson with a girl Best of luck!

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