Emily

Associated with the Roman family name Aemilius; often linked in later explanations to ideas like "rival" or "striving", though exact nuance varies by source.

Emily is a feminine given name with long-established usage and broad recognition across generations. It is especially common in English-speaking contexts today, but its historical roots reach back to Roman naming tradition. Etymologically, Emily is derived from the Latin Aemilius/Aemilia, a Roman family name. Many reference works connect this family name with Latin aemulus, often glossed as "rival" or "emulating", though the exact historical nuance can vary by source and language tradition. Pronunciation is typically EM-uh-lee, three syllables, with stress on the first. A practical tip is that Em and Emmy are common nicknames, and the spelling is stable; the variant Emilie also appears, especially in contexts influenced by French or other European spellings.

Etymology: From Latin Aemilius/Aemilia, a Roman family name; many references connect it to Latin aemulus ("rival"), but interpretations differ.