Emilia
eh-MILL-ee-ah
Emilia is the feminine form of the Roman family name Aemilius, 1 of the oldest gentes of the Republic. The name traces to the Latin “aemulus” (rival, striving to equal), from which “emulate” descends.
The Via Aemilia, built in 187 BC from Rimini to Piacenza, gave its name to Emilia-Romagna in northern Italy, ensuring the name’s geographic permanence for over 2 millennia.
Shakespeare used Emilia in 2 dramatic roles: Iago’s wife in “Othello” (1603), whose courageous final testimony is a moral turning point, and the Amazon queen in “The Two Noble Kinsmen.”
What the name Emilia means
Princess Emilia of Nassau (1569-1629) carried the name into Protestant royal circles.
British actress Emilia Clarke, known for “Game of Thrones” (2011-2019), gave the name international exposure during its modern revival.
The character’s fandom coincided with a trend toward vintage names ending in “-ia.”
Emilia entered the U.S. top 100 in 2012 and reached No. 40 by 2021 with 4,851 births. In 2024, it ranks No. 43 with 4,634 births, stable in the upper tier of girls’ names.
The name ranks in the top 10 across Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Estonia. Its cross-linguistic appeal - recognizable in Italian, Spanish, German, and Polish - makes it widely portable.
US popularity over time
Numerology and symbolism
Based on Pythagorean numerology — a traditional system linking name letters to numbers. Presented for cultural interest.
Famous people named Emilia
Emilia - similar names
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Ways to spell Emilia
| Variant | Language |
|---|---|
| Amelia | English cognate |
| Emily | English cognate |
| Emilie | French/German/Scandinavian |
| Emiliana | Italian extended form |
| Emilija | Lithuanian/Serbian |