Pronunciation
Ee-mer
Meaning
Modern form of Emer, the heroine of Irish legend. Its literal meaning is not firmly established
Related forms: Eimear (related irish form).
Alternate spellings
Eimear
Fun fact
Emer is another spelling of Eimear. Eimear is connected with Emer, the woman Cú Chulainn falls in love with in Irish legend. She's described as having six special gifts, including wisdom, a beautiful voice and skill with needlework. So there's a whole story behind this name, not just a meaning.
Popularity in Ireland
Figures for the spelling Emer, Republic of Ireland.
The CSO only publishes names given to three or more babies in a year. “Less than 3” means zero, one or two babies, and these years appear as gaps on the graph.
Number of babies registered each year
From 2018, spellings with and without fadas are counted separately. Earlier figures group these spellings together, so the graph has a break at 2018.
View yearly figures
| Year | Babies named | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 | #608 |
| 2024 | Less than 3 | - |
| 2023 | 10 | #364 |
| 2022 | 8 | #458 |
| 2021 | 9 | #430 |
| 2020 | 10 | #375 |
| 2019 | 7 | #502 |
| 2018 | 10 | #411 |
| 2017 | 13 | #324 |
| 2016 | 20 | #236 |
| 2015 | 17 | #291 |
| 2014 | 27 | #197 |
| 2013 | 24 | #227 |
| 2012 | 27 | #208 |
| 2011 | 34 | #170 |
| 2010 | 37 | #169 |
| 2009 | 37 | #165 |
| 2008 | 39 | #159 |
| 2007 | 42 | #144 |
| 2006 | 42 | #128 |
| 2005 | 65 | #85 |
| 2004 | 46 | #110 |
| 2003 | 39 | #126 |
| 2002 | 60 | #82 |
| 2001 | 65 | #80 |
| 2000 | 74 | #66 |
| 1999 | 74 | #63 |
| 1998 | 62 | #63 |
| 1997 | 73 | #75 |
| 1996 | 86 | #61 |
| 1995 | 89 | #60 |
| 1994 | 76 | #74 |
| 1993 | 84 | #74 |
| 1992 | 76 | #84 |
| 1991 | 90 | #74 |
| 1990 | 114 | #54 |
| 1989 | 89 | #73 |
| 1988 | 92 | #78 |
| 1987 | 122 | #67 |
| 1986 | 148 | #54 |
| 1985 | 162 | #43 |
| 1984 | 159 | #49 |
| 1983 | 195 | #43 |
| 1982 | 167 | #54 |
| 1981 | 147 | #62 |
| 1980 | 147 | #63 |
| 1979 | 149 | #62 |
| 1978 | 159 | #59 |
| 1977 | 146 | #62 |
| 1976 | 107 | #80 |
| 1975 | 134 | #68 |
| 1974 | 145 | #62 |
| 1973 | 151 | #59 |
| 1972 | 129 | #64 |
| 1971 | 100 | #82 |
| 1970 | 99 | #85 |
| 1969 | 86 | #88 |
| 1968 | 106 | #68 |
| 1967 | 74 | #93 |
| 1966 | 53 | #113 |
| 1965 | 78 | #85 |
| 1964 | 54 | #108 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies’ Names, tables VSA50 and VSA60. Latest year: 2025.