I LOVE both the book and character [name_f]Emma[/name_f] (Woodhouse), but I dislike how popular it consistently has been for about 30 years (although I think it might have have gone down a bit now…?)
[name_f]Do[/name_f] you think the connection to the character would be lost if I considered an elongated version of the name (Emmeline, [name_f]Emilia[/name_f], [name_f]Emmanuelle[/name_f], anything else suggested)?
Given that my name is [name_f]Anna[/name_f], is [name_f]Emma[/name_f] too close in formula and sound, as I fear it might be?
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i don’t read books very much so i have no clue what emma you’re talking about but i hope i can help still!
but no i definitely don’t think the connection would be lost if u used a longer name
some more suggestions:
emmeline (my fav version of emma)
emberly
ember
emberlyn
emelina
emelia
emerald
esmeralda
emmie / emmy
emery
emily
for me personally if my name was anna i wouldn’t use emma for a fn, but if it doesn’t bother u, than go for it, it’s not that bad because stylistically they’re both very different names imo.
hope this helps!!
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Off topic but the book is [name_f]Emma[/name_f] by [name_f]Jane[/name_f] [name_u]Austen[/name_u], the film remake from 2020 has [name_f]Anya[/name_f] Taylor-Joy in it and it’s brilliant 
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I do think that the connection to the book/character becomes diluted when you choose an elongated version. BUT, if you like the elongated versions better, then you can always say the name was “inspired by” Austen’s [name_f]Emma[/name_f]. There are no hard and fast rules here.
But food for thought: with all of its years of popularity, I’ve only met one adult [name_f]Emma[/name_f] and one child [name_f]Emma[/name_f]. And I’m raising 3 kids in the U.S. Midwest right now, so you’d think I’d be tripping over them. Popularity just isn’t what it once was. I’ve met more Eleanors, Everlys, and Junipers than young Emmas.
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You have good taste in books!
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Yes I do feel that the connection gets lost when you don’t use the exact name [name_f]Emma[/name_f]. For me, a lot of the oomph of the book title is that they don’t at all have to explain which [name_f]Emma[/name_f] they refer to. (Yes in the actual book they say Miss Woodhouse because it was the custom, but I’m talking about meta now). She is just THE [name_f]Emma[/name_f]. A lot of other novels never manage to fully reach this level recognizability with their name, even famous ones like [name_f]Rebecca[/name_f] or [name_f]Belinda[/name_f]. But [name_f]Emma[/name_f] does have that starpower. Obviously a real child wouldn’t live up to that anyway, but since [name_f]Emma[/name_f] (the character and the book) is just universally known as [name_f]Emma[/name_f], it is hard to draw the connection when the name is changed. That said, I don’t think there’s anything bad or ridiculous in saying “This is my daughter Emmy/Emmeline/Emily/Emmanuelle. Her name was inspired by my favorite book, Emma”. It would be sweet, just not obvious.
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[name_f]Anna[/name_f] and [name_f]Emma[/name_f] are close, yes, but not too close for parent and child. Had [name_f]Anna[/name_f] and [name_f]Emma[/name_f] been siblings, I would say it’s too close for my taste. Having them as a parent and a child is not a problem at all!
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I secretly like [name_f]Emma[/name_f], as it’s sweet and vintage and literary, but the popularity really turns me off. I would not consider using it, or even having it on my list, but that’s just a personal choice. It’s a lovely name!
[name_f]Anna[/name_f] and [name_f]Emma[/name_f] are totally fine for parent and child! Sibling, maybe too close, but as your daughter I think there is no problem, and it’s even cool how it honours your name a bit! (Two syllable, double letter, A ending…)
I automatically think of the [name_f]Jane[/name_f] [name_u]Austen[/name_u] book [name_f]Emma[/name_f], and wouldn’t have the same connection with [name_f]Emmeline[/name_f], [name_f]Emilia[/name_f], or any other. However, You could use [name_f]Emma[/name_f] as a nickname, or explain that you thought of the longer version because of honouring [name_f]Emma[/name_f]. That works for me!
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[name_f]Emmeline[/name_f] is also my favorite way to make this name a little more unique. I don’t think [name_f]Anna[/name_f] and [name_f]Emma[/name_f] are too close for mother/daughter. Siblings? maybe.
I don’t think people would immediately think of the character regardless since it’s so popular so, if it were me, I would do it as a middle.
For example, if I know an [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] I would not automatically think “oh, her parents like Pride & Prejudice” since it’s so popular and a name in its own right. However, if someone was named [name_u]Darcy[/name_u] or [name_m]Fitzwilliam[/name_m], that would make the association more clear.
So if you want to honor the character, maybe use Woodhouse as a middle name? It’s up to you.
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I think for a lot of people, yes. It might still hold meaning for you (and that’s what matters most), but introducing ‘This is Emmeline, she’s named after Emma Woodhouse’ might leave some people a bit ??? I think it’s fine and still meaningful, but I’d just be prepared for people not ‘getting’ it. I think there’s something about using a character name where if I really wanted to honour them, I’d use the name itself 
- or something that reminded me of them.
I think Anna and Emma are fine though
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There always is a most popular name out there (mathematically, there has to be) and unless your name is uncommon and invented, you will probably know somebody with the same given name as you. For example, I have known many other Carolines even though it was by far not the most popular baby name in the English-speaking world in the 1990’s. [name_m]Even[/name_m] though [name_f]Emma[/name_f] may be quite popular right now, she’s not going to be one of ten or even one of four Emmas in her class. At most one of three.
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I am totally of the same mind! [name_f]Emma[/name_f] was one of my favorite names, due in part to [name_f]Jane[/name_f] Austen’s wonderful heroine! I still think the name has an understated, simplistic beauty to it. It is an effortlessly elegant name, and I totally see why it is so popular!
None of the other [name_f]Emma[/name_f] variants do it for me. I lose the association with a most beloved character. They just aren’t as charming to me.
I guess I don’t have any suggestions, just sympathy because I also love the book and name, but find the commonness a bit off-putting. If your name weren’t [name_f]Anna[/name_f], I would suggest [name_f]Anya[/name_f] for [name_f]Anya[/name_f] Taylor-Joy! She certainly embodies the character of [name_f]Emma[/name_f] to me.
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I LOVE the name [name_f]Emma[/name_f]! In fact, my best friend’s name is [name_f]Emma[/name_f]!
I’ve never read the book, but it looks really good. I’ll read it when I get the chance (drowning in schoolwork rn).
I think it wouldn’t be lost for you and anybody else who knew about the connection, but my guess is that a random person wouldn’t guess the association, at least not immediately.
I think that [name_f]Emma[/name_f] and [name_f]Anna[/name_f] are lovely together.
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