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Emma or Emily?
and why?I did a poll on this and most people liked Emily better which surprised me because I thought Emma was such a board favorite.I personally prefer Emily as well. I know they are both common but I feel like Emma is everywhere whereas Emily feels popular but not as much.Please rate my list: https://www.behindthename.com/pnl/6232
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Emma because it’s my name but neither really
My gosh why did these names catch on so much?Emma still feels rarer to me than Emily because it was so much rarer when I was a kid. It’s also cool to me because it has 2 consecutive Ms. very few names have that. It’s kind of shimmery and weird for that reason... and so primitive a sound, it feels ancient. Fun to write in cursive.Emily just seems like an everygirl name. More than that, it’s an everyname name.
Edit: I know Emma is really popular, but I haven’t actually met any young Emma’s! And I’ve taught three Noras, two Luke’s, and three Ann double names, so it’s not like I’m out of the loop.Edit edit: I didn’t type apostrophe s after those names, my autocorrectdidThird edit: never seen anyone even play with Emma on the board, to my memory

This message was edited 3/26/2021, 10:02 PM

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I still think of Emma as a really special name. I've only ever met two: one girl from England that I was in a coven with, and you. So it's an extremely classy, magical name for me! I find it a very warm name, but there's something untouchable about it too, maybe relating to that ancientness you mention. I love that it was the name of a medieval queen.
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They both need to retire.But in all seriousness, I find Emily to be more substantial. Emma is a very boring name to me - and I'm someone who likes Anna, so that should tell you something. :-)

This message was edited 3/26/2021, 8:44 PM

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Emma and I really cannot explain why. Emily seems more annoying, for the lack of a better word.
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I much prefer Emily. Emma is waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay, way, way, way, way, way, way, way, way, way too popular. Oh my gosh, I meet a new Emma every day. I still love the name Emma, but it's very popular. Emily was super popular in the 2000s (my gen), but I really love it. It sounds sort of blandish from hearing it so much, but I really love it. It's still cute!
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Emily.Deep down I love both, but Emma feels sort of frumpy when I think about it. If I had to have an Emily, I wouldn't be sad about it.
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Emily
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EmmaFor some reason, I'm not a fan of Emily. I don't like the look or sound of it very much. While I don't love Emma, it's so classic and I find it nicer than Emily.
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Emily, it's not as popular, prettier

This message was edited 3/26/2021, 12:17 PM

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I grew up with too many Emilys to really appreciate it. I like it old-timey settings only, or as a middle name. So Emma is my pick, but if I had my druthers I'd go with Emilia.
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EmmaEmma's adorable and makes me think of Emma Roberts and Emma Watson. Emily is the most tired name of my generation. Every other girl is either named Emily or knows someone named Emily, but Emma is less common and sounds happier.
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I prefer Emma. It’s the other way around in the UK, Emily is the current popular one, whereas Emma is very common for women in their 30s+. It would be quite refreshing to meet a baby Emma here.Also the Emmas I have known have generally been nicer people than the Emilys!

This message was edited 3/26/2021, 11:04 AM

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"Emma is a silly little name" were the words of a colleague who was considering it for a daughter before it went viral. I have to agree. It is bland and flimsy. Emily has a pleasing rhythm and sounds much more interesting.
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Emily.I don't know why, but to me it sounds softer, milder.
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I'm crazy tired of both!
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That's fair haha
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Emma or Emily?I have a soft spot for both names. I remember that poll of yours and I was as surprised as you. My guess is people prefer Emily on here because of the preference of Emma "out there" at the moment. I like both with equal stride and especially like Emma as a NN for an Emily. There is a sweetness and gentleness to them that cannot be ignored and that is why they became popular in the first place.

This message was edited 3/26/2021, 8:52 AM

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