boy's name
Emir
eh-MEER
- Origin Arabic, Turkish
- Gender Boy
- Syllables 2
- Letters 4
- Popularity Top 1000 (US)
- Births on record 11,954
the United States
#551
2025 births
Emir is a boy's name from the Arabic title amir, "commander" or "prince." In Turkish it also means "command," and it's widely used in Turkey, Bosnia and France. The word gave English the title emir and, indirectly, the word admiral.
- Emir is a name of Arabic, Turkish origin.
- Peaked in 2025, when 546 babies were given the name.
- It has been rising over the past decade.
- Today about 1 in 6,072 babies in the United States is given this name.
- First appears in US birth records in 1970.
- 2 syllables, with the stress on syllable 2.
Emir Over Time
Births per decade in the United States, 1970s to 2020s. The striped bar is the 2020s, which so far covers 2020 to 2025.
Show the numbers
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1970s | 54 |
| 1980s | 70 |
| 1990s | 204 |
| 2000s | 879 |
| 2010s | 1,595 |
| 2020s (to 2025) | 2,818 |
What Emir Means
Emir means a commander, prince or ruler. As a personal name it suggests leadership and rank, and it's the Turkish and Bosnian form of the Arabic name Amir.
Where Emir Comes From
Arabic amir comes from the root a-m-r, to command. Early Islamic rulers used it, and the caliph's title amir al-mu'minin means commander of the faithful. English adopted emir in the 1590s, while the phrase amir al-bahr, commander of the sea, is linked to the origin of admiral. Turkish vowel patterns turned the word to Emir, and Ottoman rule carried it through the Balkans, where it's now a common Bosniak name. Its popularity among Turkish and North African families explains why it appears in French records.
Emir in Use
Sarajevo-born film director Emir Kusturica is a famous bearer. The title lives on in the United Arab Emirates, whose name uses the same word, and in Qatar and Kuwait, ruled by an emir.
How Popular Is Emir?
In 2025, Emir was given to 546 babies in the United States, ranking #551 that year. It ranks among the top 1,000 names in the United States.
Where Emir Is Used
US figures omit any name given to fewer than five babies in a year, so the rarest names are absent from the source rather than absent from use. Data & sources.
How Emir Is Spelled
Birth registers count each spelling separately, so every one has its own ranking.
| Spelling | What it is | Births on record |
|---|---|---|
| Émir | Émir is Emir written with an acute accent, used in France, where it ranks #1,125. | 275 |
| Emïr | Emïr is a rare spelling of Emir, written with a diaeresis and recorded about 5 times, mostly in France. | 5 |
| Èmir | Èmir is a rare spelling of Emir, written with a grave accent and recorded about 5 times, mostly in France. | 5 |
Names That Peaked Alongside Emir
These names rose and fell in the same era, which is why they tend to sound like they belong together.
Parents Who Like Emir Also Like
Names whose popularity has risen and fallen in step with Emir over the last century — the same taste, a different name.
How to Say Emir
- Pronunciation eh-MEER
Emir in Other Languages
The same name as it is spelled elsewhere — not shortenings, and not different names that merely sound alike. Each one has its own record here.
Sibling Names for Emir
Names from the same era that do not rhyme or share an initial with Emir — the two things that make a sibling set grate.
Common Questions About Emir
What does the name Emir mean?
Commander or prince, from Arabic amir.
Is Emir a Muslim name?
Yes. It's used widely in Turkey, Bosnia and the Arab world.
Is Emir the same as Amir?
Yes. Emir is the Turkish and Bosnian form.
How popular is the name Emir?
In 2025, Emir was given to 546 babies in the United States, ranking #551 that year. It ranks among the top 1,000 names in the United States.
Is Emir a girl's or a boy's name?
Emir is given almost entirely to boys in birth records.
How many syllables are in Emir?
Emir has 2 syllables.
When was Emir most popular?
Emir peaked in 2025, when 546 babies were given the name. It has been rising over the past decade.
Is Emir a good name?
That is not something records can settle, but they can tell you what you would be choosing. Emir currently ranks #243 in the United States. It has been rising over the past decade. Everything else — how it sounds with your surname, who it reminds you of — is yours.