Emil is of German and Latin origin, derived from the Roman family name Aemilius, which was itself derived from the Latin word 'aemulus', meaning 'rival' or 'equal'. This name has been popular throughout history, with numerous historical figures bearing it. In some languages, Emil is also a short form of the French name Emmanuel or the German name Emiliano. It gained significant popularity in Scandinavia during the 19th century and has since been widely used across Europe. The name Emil typically peaks at number one or two in countries like Denmark, Norway, and Finland. Notable individuals named Emil include the Swedish playwright August Strindberg and the Danish physicist Niels Bohr.
The name Emil experienced periods of popularity throughout the early to mid-20th century, with spikes in usage around 1915, 1921, and 1925, each seeing 8 births. However, it's clear that this name was not consistently popular over time, as there are several years where no Emil births were recorded (1897-1913, 1916-1918, 1929-1934, and 1936-1959). Overall, Emil was chosen for 134 children across the given period.