Emery

At a Glance

Meaning

Brave ruler (or, per an alternate theory, 'ruler of the home, ' via Henry)

Origin

English (surname of Germanic origin)

Gender

Neutral

Pronunciation

EM-ur-eeListen

Emery works as a name for any child, and its roots run through Old English as a surname of Germanic origin, carrying the meaning 'brave ruler' — or, by another account, 'ruler of the home' by way of Henry. You might have heard it tied to the sanding mineral of the same name, but that's just a coincidence of modern sound, not where the name actually comes from. Said EM-ur-ee, it has a steady, grounded feel to match that history.

Meaning & Origin of Emery

Meaning: Brave ruler (or, per an alternate theory, 'ruler of the home, ' via Henry).

Origin: English (surname of Germanic origin).

A common claim: Emery is sometimes associated with the mineral 'emery' (as in emery board/emery cloth). Actually: That's just a modern homophone, not the name's etymological root, which is Germanic ('brave power' via Amalric, or 'ruler of the home' via Henry).

Source: Wiktionary.

How to Pronounce Emery

Popularity of Emery

Emery held steady at #70 on the SSA list from 2023 to 2024, with the count climbing from 3,111 babies to 3,197 over that year.

Names Like Emery

These names share Emery’s style, era or origin.

• Avery
• Harlow
• Peyton
• Everett
• Harley
• Wren

FAQ

What does the name Emery mean?

Brave ruler (or, per an alternate theory, ‘ruler of the home, ‘ via Henry). (Source: Wiktionary)

How do you pronounce Emery?

Emery is pronounced EM-ur-ee (IPA: /ˈɛməri/).

Is Emery a popular name right now?

Emery is near its all-time peak (#70 in 2023), ranked #70 in 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)

Make Emery Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Emery, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.