Jemima Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: juh-MY-muh /dʒəˈmaɪ.mə/
Origin: Hebrew; English
Meaning: Hebrew: dove; English: sweet
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Jemima has its roots in Hebrew, derived from the word 'yemim,' which means 'dove.' This name appears in the Hebrew Bible, specifically in the Book of Job, where Jemima is one of the daughters of Job, noted for her beauty. The name was later transliterated into Greek as 'Iemima' and subsequently into Latin, maintaining its original meaning.
The transition into Old French and then into Middle English occurred through various translations of biblical texts, including the influential King James Bible published in 1611, which helped popularize many biblical names in English-speaking cultures. Historically, Jemima has been associated with notable figures and events.
In the biblical narrative, Job's daughters, including Jemima, are described as being granted an inheritance alongside their brothers, which was a significant departure from the norms of the time, highlighting themes of equity and justice. This portrayal contributed to the name's resonance in religious and literary contexts, as it symbolizes purity and peace, akin to the dove.
Culturally, the name Jemima has been embraced in various artistic and literary works, often evoking themes of innocence and virtue. The name's association with the dove, a symbol of the Holy Spirit in Christian iconography, further enhances its spiritual significance.
Additionally, diminutive forms such as 'Jem' or 'Mima' have emerged, reflecting affectionate or familial connections. Overall, Jemima's enduring presence in literature and culture underscores its historical and symbolic importance, rooted deeply in its etymological origins.
Famous people named Jemima
In this section, you will find notable people named Jemima. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Jemima who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Jemima who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Jemima Kirke is an actress and artist best known for Girls, Tiny Furniture, and The Little Hours.
Jemima Goldsmith is a producer and writer best known for The Widow, About My Daughter, and her work with the charity Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Centre.
Fictional characters named Jemima
The following list of fictional characters named Jemima is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Jemima Puddle-Duck is a fictional character from the children's book The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck by Beatrix Potter. She is a domestic duck who goes on an adventure to find a safe place to lay her eggs.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Jemima, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Jemima. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Jemima was first seen in the United States in 1881.
Jemima has ranked as high as #1315 nationally, which occurred in 2018, and has been most popular in Florida, New York, Pennsylvania, California, and Texas.
In the past 5 years the name Jemima has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Jemima is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Jemima was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Jemima (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| PA | 7 | |
| CA | 6 | |
| NY | 5 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Jemima.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 54 |
| 2023 | 61 |
| 2022 | 54 |
| 2021 | 40 |
| 2020 | 34 |
| 2019 | 46 |
| 2018 | 64 |
| 2017 | 38 |
| 2016 | 44 |
| 2015 | 35 |
| 2014 | 55 |
| 2013 | 44 |
| 2012 | 42 |
| 2011 | 40 |
| 2010 | 34 |
| 2009 | 51 |
| 2008 | 33 |
| 2007 | 43 |
| 2006 | 36 |
| 2005 | 29 |
| 2004 | 32 |
| 2003 | 34 |
| 2002 | 24 |
| 2001 | 24 |
| 2000 | 26 |
| 1999 | 29 |
| 1998 | 17 |
| 1997 | 14 |
| 1996 | 29 |
| 1995 | 18 |
| 1994 | 11 |
| 1993 | 16 |
| 1992 | 11 |
| 1991 | 17 |
| 1990 | 13 |
| 1989 | 14 |
| 1988 | 17 |
| 1987 | 9 |
| 1986 | 12 |
| 1985 | 11 |
| 1984 | 11 |
| 1983 | 10 |
| 1982 | 12 |
| 1981 | 10 |
| 1980 | 7 |
| 1979 | 11 |
| 1978 | 9 |
| 1977 | 13 |
| 1976 | 6 |
| 1975 | 13 |
| 1974 | 15 |
| 1973 | 5 |
| 1972 | 8 |
| 1970 | 6 |
| 1969 | 5 |
| 1967 | 6 |
| 1966 | 5 |
| 1949 | 5 |
| 1941 | 6 |
| 1938 | 8 |
| 1935 | 8 |
| 1932 | 8 |
| 1929 | 7 |
| 1928 | 7 |
| 1927 | 7 |
| 1926 | 6 |
| 1925 | 8 |
| 1924 | 10 |
| 1923 | 7 |
| 1922 | 8 |
| 1921 | 8 |
| 1920 | 8 |
| 1919 | 7 |
| 1918 | 14 |
| 1917 | 18 |
| 1916 | 16 |
| 1915 | 12 |
| 1914 | 5 |
| 1913 | 6 |
| 1912 | 8 |
| 1911 | 5 |
| 1910 | 6 |
| 1909 | 8 |
| 1908 | 8 |
| 1905 | 6 |
| 1903 | 5 |
| 1902 | 6 |
| 1901 | 6 |
| 1900 | 11 |
| 1898 | 5 |
| 1897 | 11 |
| 1896 | 5 |
| 1895 | 8 |
| 1893 | 13 |
| 1892 | 5 |
| 1891 | 10 |
| 1890 | 6 |
| 1889 | 5 |
| 1888 | 6 |
| 1887 | 9 |
| 1885 | 10 |
| 1884 | 9 |
| 1883 | 6 |
| 1882 | 5 |
| 1881 | 5 |