Rival or industrious
Derived from the Roman family name Aemilius, it carries the sense of striving or being a rival. It is a classic European name that has maintained a steady presence in Germany, Scandinavia, and Eastern Europe for centuries. In the United States, it was a staple in the late 19th century before becoming a rare, vintage choice today.
Less common today
Emil isn't in the latest US Top 1000. It last peaked at #1,077 in 1992.
US births per 5-year period, 1990–present (SSA data).
Czech long-distance runner and Olympic gold medalist
The first actor to win the Academy Award for Best Actor
German-Danish expressionist painter and printmaker
The young protagonist of the classic children's novel · Emil and the Detectives
Nobel Prize-winning chemist known for sugar research
Romanian philosopher and essayist
