I really admire this name. I know it's used frequently in certain European countries to almost stereotypical levels, but there's just something deeply alluring and captivating about Emil. I personally find it incredibly short and sweet. Overwhelmingly handsome as well. I wouldn't mind using it or it's English counterpart of Emile as a middle name for a son.
When I hear Emil, I immediately think of either Emil Graham de Vanily (maternal grandfather of Adrien Agreste and Félix Fathom in the French TV show Miraculous) or Emil Svensson from the Swedish book series Emil i Lönneberga.
Here in Michigan it's pronounced AE-mul. I have known 2 people with this name. One was a boy in my high school (class of 1981) and the other was an old farmer who had 10 adult children. His kids were my parents' age. I always thought it was a cool and unusual name.
Also Romansh. Source: "Vornamen in der Schweiz. Prénoms en Suisse. I nomi in Svizzera. Prenoms in Svizra" (1993) published by the Association of Swiss registrars Https://rm.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peider_Lansel -- his brother's name Https://sursassiala.ch/2015/01/15/familienforschung/ Https://www.portraitarchiv.ch/portrait?page=72 Http://www.annalas.ch/persunas/display/q:Emil
It may be uncommon, but it was popular in the US once until it fell way too short in the late 20th century. That name should remain strong elsewhere, mainly Northern European nations such as Norway and Sweden.
Its only English pronunciation is actually ə-MEEL, the EHM-il pronunciation is just way too close to the one of Emily which is pronounced as EHM-i-lee.
One of my best friends is named Emil and he has a terrible home life. He lives with an abusive step dad and a mom who doesn't care about him anymore. He is a great person but affected deeply by his childhood. This name means a lot to me and the rest of the Star Oasis. I will most definitely name my son this if I ever have a child.
In Germany, Emil is exclusively a male name. Despite its fame because of the Kästner novel, most people I know tend to think of it as a name for rather dull, run-of-the-mill characters (I think Kästner tried to use that for effect, actually), so most of the time it wasn't particularly popular as a name for actual children. Since I got to know one or two young Emils fairly recently, this might have somewhat changed, though.
Emil Tischbein is the main character of Erich Kästner's famous novel "Emil und die Detektive" (1929), which I think has been translated into English as "Emil and the Detectives". Anyway, here in Germany it has been a staple of children's literature ever since, and it instantly springs to just about everybody's mind when we hear the name Emil somewhere.
In 2018, 84 is the most common age for an American (U.S.) Emil who is registered male with the Social Security Administration. It is the 1754th most common male first name for living U.S. citizens.
JOHN EMIL LIST murdered his mother, in addition to his wife, daughter and both sons on the same day in 1971. He left a written confession and disappeared to another state and took up a new life under a new name. He was finally caught 20 years later living a "normal" life with a second wife and a good job. He was sentenced to life in prison not eligible for parole until he was over 100 years old.
Not sure if this counts, but Emil Nekola (fictional character) from Yuri! On Ice is fairly popular. Maybe even 'Emil Steilsson' (unofficial name) from Hetalia (he's the personification of Iceland).
I've seen this name before and thought it was odd-sounding. Of course, that's because I was saying it wrong. Met an Emil (and heard how it was really pronounced) and it's beautiful; one of my favorites now!
Emil Sinclair is the narrator of Hermann Hesse's breakthrough novel Demian (1919). Another famous bearer is Emil Sitka (22 December 1914-16 January 1998), a longtime, popular supporting actor in the Three Stooges' films.
Though very popular in Scandinavia, the name Emil has fallen out of the top 1000 in the United States. It was only given to 114 baby boys here in 2012.
I believe Remi's brother in the movie ratatouille is named Emil, pronounced eh-MEEL. I like the pronunciation a lot and I think this is a really handsome, underused name (at least in modern day in the US) and very easy to grow up with :-)
Emil Zátopek, Czech long-distance runner best known for his "hat trick" at the 1952 Helsinki Olympic games. Winning the gold medal and setting Olympic records in the 5,000m, 10,000m and the Marathon—a race he had never run before.
I'm sorry, but it is not. Eliška is the 65th most used name in the Czech Republic. Emil is about 150th "most" used name, and there are only about 10 thousands Czechs bearing this name in the whole world. But all I really wanted to say was that the above comment is wrong in its statement that Emil is a traditional Czech name, because Emil, regardless how "often" used, is not a "very traditional name for Czechs". Ask any Czech you want. :)
Emil, and a traditional Czech name? You've got to be kidding. It's rarely used among Czechs, it isn't of Czech origin and it has no connection to Czech culture and history whatsoever.[traditional or not, it is the 65th most used name in the Czech Republic -ed]
The ancient historian Plutarch, in his Life of Numa (VIII.9-10), claimed that the meaning of the name "Aemilius" referred to an individual who spoke with grace and engaging charm. Aemilius was thus the additional name that King Numa bestowed upon his son Mamercus (named for a son of Pythagoras), and this name of Aemilius became the name of the patrician family of Rome descended from Mamercus.
I wouldn't mind using it or it's English counterpart of Emile as a middle name for a son.