Popularity:2367
Origin:Icelandic
Other Origin(s):Roman
Meaning:To strive, excel, rival; Eager
Emil is one of those rare names that are popular in numerous cultures around the world, from France to Sweden to Romania, while remaining fresh and exotic to the ear. This beautiful and industrious name derives from the Latin family gens Aemilia, one of the most powerful patrician families in ancient Rome. In Latin, it means “to strive,” “excel,” or “rival,” while the French definition is “eager.” Emil has many close masculine and feminine variants, including Émile, Emily, Emilia, and Amelia.
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