# Emma

/ˈɛmə/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/emma
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. female name

noun · CEFR A1

a popular name for a girl or woman.

For teachers: a female given name of Germanic origin, derived from words meaning 'whole' or 'universal'.

- Emma is starting her new job at the hospital next Monday.
- The name Emma has consistently ranked among the most popular choices for newborn girls in both Europe and North America for several decades.

### 2. the letter M

noun · CEFR C2 · British English · Archaic

an old way to say the letter 'M' in the British military.

For teachers: the signifier for the letter M in the early 20th-century British military phonetic alphabet.

- In old war stories, soldiers might say 'Ack Emma' for A.M.
- The term 'Ack Emma' was standard World War I slang for A.M., using the phonetic alphabet of the era to clarify the time.

Usage: Commonly found in the phrase 'Ack Emma' (A.M.) or 'Pip Emma' (P.M.).

## Examples

- Emma is my best friend from school.
- The teacher called Emma to the front of the room to collect her prize for the essay competition.
- While the name Emma has seen various peaks in popularity over the centuries, it remains a classic choice that transcends specific cultural eras.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.