Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Would Emily sound out of place on a baby in 2025?

33 replies

SavlaRae8 · 01/06/2025 17:11

I love Emily, I think it’s a beautiful name but I’m slightly concerned about it possibly sounding dated on a baby now? I know it was at its peak in the late 90s/00s and the ons says it was number 1 in 2003 & 2004 in the UK and it’s now number 28, so certainly not uncommon but I suspect it’s probably falling down the charts due to overuse 20 years ago. My dh said he’s struggling to imagine it on a baby because most Emily’s are in their late teens and 20s now.

its a lovely classic name but I’m not sure if the popularity has time stamped it slightly. Thoughts?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
SingingSands · 01/06/2025 23:46

I know an Emily born this year - it's a beautiful name, classic for good reason.

LBFseBrom · 01/06/2025 23:32

I think it's lovely, go for it.

RosesAndHellebores · 01/06/2025 23:32

My DC were born in 94 and 98. I don't recall any Emily's in their classes and there are none in their friendship groups.

It's a very nice name.

ezi91 · 01/06/2025 23:30

I'm a 32 year old Emily. I love my name.

Did shock me seeing a little Emily in my son's nursery, but I loved it !

hby9628 · 01/06/2025 23:27

I have a 10year old Emily. Beautiful name for any age.

GiddyCrab · 01/06/2025 23:26

It's a beautiful, timeless name.

AnneMarieW · 01/06/2025 23:22

It’s fine- it’s a classic name, well used historically. Despite changes in popularity those types of names don’t tend to date as badly as currently popular names like Isla, Ava, Noah, Theo etc likely will imo, lovely as those sound at the moment.

It’s like Jack - there are so many references for the name in history and popular culture that you don’t just think “boy who was most probably born in the 90’s” even though that was it’s recent peak. Emily will make people think of women like Suffragette Davison, writers Dickinson or Brontë etc as well as Emily’s still about today.

if Emily was my favourite name, I wouldn’t let surges in popularity put me off (and personally I know middle aged and an elderly one as well as younger ones).

Gattopard · 01/06/2025 19:40

Emily is one of those names that never goes out of date - I know an 88 year old Emily, a 56 year old Emily and a 20 year old Emily. A baby Emily would be lovely.

Firsttimebabymummy · 01/06/2025 19:35

BethDuttonYeHaw · 01/06/2025 17:14

It’s a beautiful classic that has stood the test of time.

This

JellyAnd · 01/06/2025 19:26

DD is 7 and it’s one of the few repeated names in her year- it’s a 2 form entry school and there’s an Emily in each Y3 class.

BoleynMemories13 · 01/06/2025 19:23

Of course a name still firmly in the top 50 wouldn't sound out of place on a baby in 2025.

Emily is classic. Yes it use to be more popular, but it's still widely used. I really don't understand the problem.

Other 00s favourites such a Chloe, Ellie and Jessica are much further down the charts now than Emily, and even they wouldn't be out of place on a baby in 2025. It's hardly like you're wanting Tracy or Susan!

NewsdeskJC · 01/06/2025 18:44

I have a 30 year Emily.
But I think it's a name that you still get now, a bit like Hannah.

Chasepaw5 · 01/06/2025 17:54

It’s definitely classic but I think the popularity it had 20+ years ago ruined the timeless feel of the name imo, any name that has a peak like Emily is bound to become dated classic or not. It really was everywhere in the 2000s, not just the UK it was top name in the US and Australia at the same time.

Moreteaandchocolate · 01/06/2025 17:46

No it’s timeless, not dated.

Todaysworldandbiscuits · 01/06/2025 17:44

Beautiful name; I prefer traditional names, and reviving them feels even better! I've done it myself with a different name, and no others in the school year!

YellowPostIts · 01/06/2025 17:43

Emily is lovely. It’s a classic name like Elizabeth, or Catherine.

FromTheFirstOldFashionedWeWereCursed · 01/06/2025 17:41

I know many Emilys and they're all great. Two in their mid-40s, one in her mid-30s, one who's 16, one who's 5.

SquigglePigs · 01/06/2025 17:39

Emily is lovely. Works great on adults but is really nice on a kid too. I don't think it's dated at all.

spiderlight · 01/06/2025 17:39

It's beautiful! I don't think it sounds dated at all.

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 01/06/2025 17:38

I know 2 Emily’s one 47 and one is 17 so I think is definitely timeless and beautiful.

SummertimeFeelingFine · 01/06/2025 17:34

It's absolutely fine, a lovely name.

Emanwenym · 01/06/2025 17:33

It's fine for a baby but there are a lot of Emilys in their 20s.
Babies called Emily in England & Wales since 1996

Your thread made me think I'd not heard of a baby Rebecca for decades, but it seemed to be everywhere in the 1990s.
Babies called Rebecca in England & Wales since 1996

2chocolateoranges · 01/06/2025 17:31

I think Emily is one of those classic names that will be used for years to come.

I work in early years and we have an Emily. I liked it and it was nearly our youngest child’s name.

softlyfallsthesnow · 01/06/2025 17:29

babystarsandmoon · 01/06/2025 17:21

It’s a bit dated.

It really isn't. It's been well used for a couple of centuries and is a classic name. That doesn't make it dated.

HippeePrincess · 01/06/2025 17:23

It’s a classic and therefore doesn’t date in my opinion. I think it’s very popular still and I know of lots of Emily’s of all ages.