What does Sawyer mean?
An English occupational surname, “one who saws wood.”
What does Emerson mean?
An English surname, “son of Emery,” with Emery meaning “brave, powerful.”
Sawyer vs Emerson
Which is more popular?
Sawyer is more popular than Emerson today: about 2,941 US babies were given the name Sawyer in 2025, compared with 2,241 named Emerson.
| Sawyer | Emerson | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Woodcutter | Son of Emery |
| Origin | English | English |
| Gender | Unisex | Unisex |
| Pronunciation | SOY-er | EM-er-sun |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| First appeared | 1913 | 1993 |
| Peak year | 2015 (4,272) | 2025 (2,241) |
| In 2025 | 2,941 | 2,241 |
| Trend | Rising | Near its peak |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Sawyer
Emerson
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Sawyer | Emerson |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 17,914 | 11,246 |
| 2010s | 34,031 | 16,233 |
| 2000s | 10,153 | 6,205 |
| 1990s | 3,453 | 366 |
| 1980s | 275 | 0 |
| 1970s | 5 | 0 |
| 1910s | 7 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Sawyer or Emerson more popular?
Sawyer is more popular than Emerson today: about 2,941 US babies were given the name Sawyer in 2025, compared with 2,241 named Emerson.
What is the difference between Sawyer and Emerson?
Sawyer means Woodcutter (English origin), while Emerson means Son of Emery (English origin).
Which name is older, Sawyer or Emerson?
In US records, Sawyer first appears in 1913 and Emerson in 1993, so Sawyer has the longer recorded history.