Emmett is a diminutive derivation of Emma. Emma originates in Germanic languages and means "universal woman". Recently, Emma has been one of the most popular feminine given names in the United States, Europe and New Zealand. It was the name of several queens throughout history and also the name of Jane Austen's famous novel, later on made into many films. More recently, it was popularized by the British actress and screenwriter Emma Thompson. The usage of Emmett as a masculine given name has declined recently.