Emelie is a name of Swedish origin, derived from the Old Norse name "Amalia," which means "work" or "industrious." It is also associated with the Latin word "amare," meaning "to love." In Sweden, Emelie has been popular for many years and was the second most common female name in the 1980s. It is often spelled differently throughout Europe, such as Amélie in France and Amelia in England. The name Emelie gained international popularity through characters like Amélie Poulain from the French film "Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain" (Amélie). However, it has been used for centuries, with historical figures named Emelie appearing as early as the 16th century in Sweden. Today, Emelie is still a beloved and popular name choice among parents looking for a unique yet meaningful name for their daughter.
The name Emelie has seen a varied pattern of usage over the years in the United States. Between 1880 and 2023, there have been a total of 2,556 births recorded with this name.
In its early years of recording, Emelie was quite uncommon, with only single-digit numbers of births each year from 1880 to 1945. However, starting in the mid-1940s, we begin to see a gradual increase in its popularity. The number of births with this name fluctuates between the teens and low twenties until the late 1960s.
Interestingly, there is a significant spike in Emelie's popularity in the early 1970s, with 29 births recorded in 1974, which was the highest number up to that point. This trend continues throughout the 1970s and 80s, with Emelie consistently appearing in the top 1,000 baby names for girls during this period.
The 1990s mark a turning point for Emelie's popularity. The number of births with this name starts to increase significantly, reaching double-digit figures every year from 1992 onwards. This trend continues into the early 2000s, with Emelie peaking at 76 births in 2003.
However, since then, there has been a steady decline in the popularity of Emelie. Although it remains relatively common, with around 40-70 births each year from 2005 to 2019, it no longer appears in the Social Security Administration's list of top baby names for girls.
In recent years, Emelie has continued to be used, but at a lower rate. There were 34 births recorded with this name in 2021 and 26 in 2022, indicating that while it is still a viable choice for parents, it may not be as trendy or popular as it once was.
In conclusion, the name Emelie has had a varied history of popularity in the United States. While it started out as an uncommon name and experienced periods of fluctuation and decline, it has also enjoyed periods of significant popularity, particularly during the mid-20th century and again in the late 1960s and early 70s. Despite its recent decrease in popularity, Emelie continues to be chosen by parents for their daughters, with a total of 2,556 births recorded between 1880 and 2023.