Named after Emerson, the eldest son of the developer William Carter.
Carter, of Parkstone in Dorset, bought land here in 1895: the southern part of the manor of Nelmes, recorded as Elmes in 1333. The station opened in 1909 as Emerson Park Halt, also known as Emerson Park and Great Nelmes Halt. 'Halt' was dropped in 1968.