| Emiliano | Alejandro | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | rival; eager, striving | defender of the people |
| Origin | spanish | spanish |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | eh-mee-lee-AH-no | ah-leh-HAHN-dro |
| Syllables | 4 | 4 |
| First appeared | 1885 | 1885 |
| Peak year | 2025 (3,701) | 2001 (4,557) |
| In 2025 | 3,701 | 1,842 |
| Trend | Near its peak | Declining |
Source: US Social Security Administration.
| Decade | Emiliano | Alejandro |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 16,562 | 11,274 |
| 2010s | 16,089 | 25,033 |
| 2000s | 7,739 | 43,118 |
| 1990s | 956 | 35,178 |
| 1980s | 462 | 15,316 |
| 1970s | 471 | 9,134 |
| 1960s | 181 | 3,099 |
| 1950s | 119 | 1,713 |
| 1940s | 77 | 938 |
| 1930s | 72 | 775 |
| 1920s | 98 | 732 |
| 1910s | 12 | 228 |
| 1900s | 0 | 66 |
| 1890s | 0 | 10 |
| 1880s | 6 | 10 |
The Spanish form of the Latin Aemilianus, derived from the Roman family name Aemilius, which is generally linked to the Latin aemulus 'rival, emulating, striving'. Spread in the Hispanic world partly through the Mexican revolutionary Emiliano Zapata.
The Spanish form of Alexander, from the Greek Alexandros, combining alexein 'to defend, protect' and aner/andros 'man'. Carried through history by Alexander the Great and later by saints and kings.
Emiliano is more popular than Alejandro today: about 3,701 US babies were given the name Emiliano in 2025, compared with 1,842 named Alejandro.
Emiliano means rival; eager, striving (spanish origin), while Alejandro means defender of the people (spanish origin).
In US records, Emiliano first appears in 1885 and Alejandro in 1885, so Emiliano has the longer recorded history.