Volume the Third: Questions to the End of Emma.
An interactive graph on the popularity of the name Emma – when this book was written, it was common, then it became very uncommon, and now it has experienced a resurgence, from this article:

The possible first use of the name Emma was Emma of Lesum or Emma of Stiepel (also known as Hemma and Imma). She was the first female inhabitant of Bremen to be named Emma and it believed to have been born between 975-980 in Saxony which is now Bremen-Burglesum, Germany. She was a countess popularly venerated as a saint for her good works.

One of the first records of the name Emma was "Emma of Normandy". She was the mother of Edward the Confessor: Emma lived from 985 or 988 until 1052. She was Queen consort of the Kingdom of England twice, first as the second wife to Ethelred the Unready of England (1002-1016); and then again to Canute the Great of Denmark (1017-1035).

POPULARITY: Emma as a girls name: In the 1880 decade it was the 3rd most popular girls name, and in 2000 decade it was the 4th most popular name. That does not mean it has been popular all that time. From 1890 these was a slow decline in popularity until 1940 where it was the 124 most popular girl name. There was a quick drop in popularity and by 1970 it was 448th popular girl name. Emma has been becoming more popular again, in the 1980 it was back up to 252 and 1990 it was the 56 most popular girls name. Emma has been the 2nd most popular girls name from 2003 to 2006.

Emma as a boys name: In the 1880 decade it was 584th popular boys name and quickly dropped to 847th by 1990's. It does not seem to be used as a boys name since the early 1900's.

On to the questions:

1)In Chapter 3 Harriet is frightened by an encounter with gipsies (sic) and is rescued by Frank. Emma misreads the interaction as she is wont to do. Despite Emma’s best efforts, the incident gets out and becomes the talk of the town. What do we learn from this scene, and what did you think about it?

2)In Chapter 8, Emma begins to have a realization about her behavior …Now Emma was obliged to think of the piano forté; and the remembrance of all her former fanciful and unfair conjectures was so little pleasing, that she soon allowed herself to believe her visit had been long enough; and, with a repetition of every thing that she could venture to say of the good wishes which she really felt, took leave. Did you think that Emma’s realization about her shallowness was handled well? Did you find it believable?

3) Upon Mrs. Churchill’s death in Chapter 9, we read: “Mrs. Churchill, after being disliked at least twenty-five years, was now spoken of with compassionate allowances. In one point she was fully justified. She had never been admitted before to be seriously ill. The event acquitted her of all the fancifulness, and all the selfishness of imaginary complaints.” Why was this quote included and what do you think it illustrates?

4) The revelation that Frank and Jane have been secretly engaged provokes another self-revelation for Emma: “Poor Harriet! to be a second time the dupe of her misconceptions and flattery. Mr. Knightley had spoken prophetically, when he once said, "Emma, you have been no friend to Harriet Smith."—She was afraid she had done her nothing but disservice…Common sense would have directed her to tell Harriet, that she must not allow herself to think of him, and that there were five hundred chances to one against his ever caring for her.—"But, with common sense," she added, "I am afraid I have had little to do." How has Emma treated Harriet and does she truly realize the severity of her behavior?

5) As Mr. Knighly and Emma become more and more in love, finally he asks her: "And cannot you call me 'George' now?"
Her reply is: "Impossible!—I never can call you any thing but 'Mr. Knightley.' I will not promise even to equal the elegant terseness of Mrs. Elton, by calling you Mr. K.—But I will promise," she added presently, laughing and blushing—"I will promise to call you once by your Christian name. I do not say when, but perhaps you may guess where;—in the building in which N. takes M. for better, for worse."
Given what we discussed earlier about the use of formal names in English Society, what does this exchange indicate?

6) We end the book with “The result of this distress was, that, with a much more voluntary, cheerful consent than his daughter had ever presumed to hope for at the moment, she was able to fix her wedding-day—and Mr. Elton was called on, within a month from the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Martin, to join the hands of Mr. Knightley and Miss Woodhouse.
The wedding was very much like other weddings, where the parties have no taste for finery or parade; and Mrs. Elton, from the particulars detailed by her husband, thought it all extremely shabby, and very inferior to her own.—"Very little white satin, very few lace veils; a most pitiful business!—Selina would stare when she heard of it."—But, in spite of these deficiencies, the wishes, the hopes, the confidence, the predictions of the small band of true friends who witnessed the ceremony, were fully answered in the perfect happiness of the union”Is it a satisfactory ending?

7) Finally – what are your overall impressions of the book? Are there any questions I missed?

Thank you to everyone for participating! I love the interaction of the questions and answers and have really enjoyed reading along with you. Are we up for another in Lent?