It is derived from the Germanic word ermen, meaning "whole" or "universal".

[1] It likely originated as a short form of names such as Ermengarde or Ermentrude.

Its earliest use begins at least from the early seventh century, with Frankish royal daughter Emma of Austrasia and the wife of Eadbald of Kent found in written sources.

Its popularity in the medieval era increased because it was the name of Emma of Normandy, mother of Edward the Confessor.

Emma has been used as a short form of some of these names or shares diminutives such as Em or Emmy with them.