Lem Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: LEM /lɛm/
Origin: Hebrew; English
Meaning: Hebrew: 'devoted to God'; English: diminutive of names like Lemuel
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Lem is derived from the Hebrew name "Lemuel," which means "belonging to God" or "devoted to God." The etymology traces back to the Hebrew root "lem" (לֶמֶךְ), which appears in the Old Testament. In the biblical context, Lemuel is mentioned in the Book of Proverbs, specifically in Proverbs 31:1, where he is described as a king and the son of a mother who imparts wisdom to him.
This connection to biblical figures provides a significant historical milestone for the name, linking it to themes of wisdom and divine guidance. The name Lem entered the English language through various translations of the Bible, particularly during the 16th and 17th centuries, when the King James Version was published in 1611.
This translation played a crucial role in popularizing biblical names in English-speaking cultures. The name Lem, as a diminutive form of Lemuel, reflects a broader trend in which longer biblical names were shortened for ease of use, a practice common in many cultures.
Culturally, the name Lem carries connotations of piety and devotion, resonating with the religious significance of its Hebrew origins. The association with wisdom, as imparted by the mother of Lemuel in Proverbs, has contributed to the name's enduring presence in various contexts.
Additionally, the simplicity and brevity of the name Lem lend it a certain charm, making it appealing across different cultures and eras. Overall, Lem encapsulates a rich historical and cultural heritage, rooted in biblical tradition and linguistic evolution.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Lem, 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 Lem. 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 Lem was first seen in the United States in 1880.
Lem has ranked as high as #2135 nationally, which occurred in 1917, and has been most popular in Mississippi, Texas, Alabama, Tennessee, and Georgia.
In the past 5 years the name Lem has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Lem 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 Lem was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
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 Lem.
| Year | Total Births | Boy |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 6 | 6 |
| 1977 | 5 | 5 |
| 1971 | 6 | 6 |
| 1969 | 5 | 5 |
| 1966 | 5 | 5 |
| 1965 | 5 | 5 |
| 1964 | 8 | 8 |
| 1963 | 6 | 6 |
| 1961 | 5 | 5 |
| 1960 | 10 | 10 |
| 1959 | 7 | 7 |
| 1958 | 6 | 6 |
| 1957 | 8 | 8 |
| 1956 | 8 | 8 |
| 1955 | 6 | 6 |
| 1954 | 9 | 9 |
| 1953 | 7 | 7 |
| 1952 | 10 | 10 |
| 1951 | 14 | 14 |
| 1950 | 15 | 15 |
| 1949 | 13 | 13 |
| 1948 | 13 | 13 |
| 1947 | 7 | 7 |
| 1946 | 22 | 22 |
| 1945 | 10 | 10 |
| 1944 | 10 | 10 |
| 1943 | 10 | 10 |
| 1942 | 16 | 16 |
| 1941 | 11 | 11 |
| 1940 | 17 | 17 |
| 1939 | 12 | 12 |
| 1938 | 10 | 10 |
| 1937 | 7 | 7 |
| 1936 | 13 | 13 |
| 1935 | 19 | 19 |
| 1934 | 14 | 14 |
| 1933 | 17 | 17 |
| 1932 | 17 | 17 |
| 1931 | 17 | 17 |
| 1930 | 13 | 13 |
| 1929 | 20 | 20 |
| 1928 | 23 | 23 |
| 1927 | 16 | 16 |
| 1926 | 22 | 22 |
| 1925 | 27 | 27 |
| 1924 | 27 | 27 |
| 1923 | 21 | 21 |
| 1922 | 28 | 28 |
| 1921 | 32 | 32 |
| 1920 | 23 | 23 |
| 1919 | 31 | 31 |
| 1918 | 34 | 34 |
| 1917 | 39 | 39 |
| 1916 | 20 | 20 |
| 1915 | 27 | 27 |
| 1914 | 22 | 22 |
| 1913 | 11 | 11 |
| 1912 | 12 | 12 |
| 1911 | 12 | 12 |
| 1910 | 14 | 14 |
| 1909 | 12 | 12 |
| 1908 | 6 | 6 |
| 1907 | 9 | 9 |
| 1906 | 7 | 7 |
| 1905 | 9 | 9 |
| 1904 | 10 | 10 |
| 1903 | 7 | 7 |
| 1902 | 13 | 13 |
| 1901 | 7 | 7 |
| 1900 | 6 | 6 |
| 1899 | 16 | 16 |
| 1898 | 21 | 21 |
| 1897 | 14 | 14 |
| 1896 | 16 | 16 |
| 1895 | 13 | 13 |
| 1894 | 13 | 13 |
| 1893 | 12 | 12 |
| 1892 | 23 | 23 |
| 1891 | 10 | 10 |
| 1890 | 17 | 17 |
| 1889 | 21 | 21 |
| 1888 | 13 | 13 |
| 1887 | 11 | 11 |
| 1886 | 21 | 21 |
| 1885 | 18 | 18 |
| 1884 | 12 | 12 |
| 1883 | 24 | 24 |
| 1882 | 25 | 25 |
| 1881 | 19 | 19 |
| 1880 | 12 | 12 |
Top States for Lem (1935)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| MS | 5 |