Pemela Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: PEM-uh-luh //ˈpɛm.ə.lə//
Origin: English; Hebrew
Meaning: English: honey; Hebrew: palm tree
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Pemela is believed to be a variant of the name Pamela, which was coined in the early 16th century. The etymology of Pamela can be traced back to Sir Philip Sidney's pastoral romance "Arcadia," published in 1590, where he introduced the name as a combination of the Greek words 'pan' meaning 'all' and 'meli' meaning 'honey,' thus suggesting a meaning akin to 'all sweetness.' This literary origin marks a significant milestone in the name's history, as it transitioned from a fictional character to a widely recognized name in English-speaking cultures.
The name Pamela gained further prominence through its inclusion in various literary works and its adoption by notable figures throughout history. In the 18th century, it was popularized by Samuel Richardson's novel "Pamela, or Virtue Rewarded," published in 1740, which tells the story of a virtuous maid and her trials.
This novel not only solidified the name's association with virtue and moral integrity but also contributed to its usage as a given name in England and beyond. Culturally, the name Pemela, as a derivative of Pamela, carries connotations of sweetness and charm, reflecting the qualities attributed to its literary origins.
The name has been embraced in various forms across different cultures, often associated with feminine grace and virtue. While Pemela itself may not have a long historical record, its roots in the name Pamela connect it to a rich tapestry of literary and cultural significance, ensuring its place in the lexicon of names derived from English literature.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Pemela, 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 Pemela. 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 Pemela was first seen in the United States in 1966.
Pemela has ranked as high as #9547 nationally, which occurred in 1966, and has been most popular in .
In the past 5 years the name Pemela has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Pemela 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 Pemela 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 Pemela.
| Year | Total Births | Girl |
|---|---|---|
| 1966 | 5 | 5 |
Top States for Pemela
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.
No state data available for this year.