Gemma Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: JEM-uh //ˈdʒɛm.ə//
Origin: Italian; Latin
Meaning: Italian: gem; Latin: jewel
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Gemma is derived from the Latin word "gemma," which means "gem" or "jewel." This term has its roots in the Proto-Indo-European word "gembh-" which also conveys the idea of something precious or valuable. The transition of the name into English occurred through the influence of Latin during the Roman Empire, where it was used as a given name, particularly in the context of beauty and preciousness associated with gemstones.
Historically, the name Gemma has been borne by various notable figures, including Saint Gemma Galgani, an Italian mystic and saint from the late 19th century, who is venerated in the Catholic Church. Her life and piety contributed to the name's association with virtue and holiness.
Additionally, the name appears in medieval texts and was used among the nobility, reflecting a cultural appreciation for beauty and refinement during that era. Culturally, Gemma has been associated with themes of beauty, value, and purity, resonating with the symbolism of gemstones in various traditions.
The name has been embraced in literature and art, often representing characters or ideals that embody these qualities. A diminutive form, Gem, has also emerged, though it is less frequently used in historical contexts.
Overall, the name Gemma carries a rich heritage that intertwines linguistic roots with cultural significance, reflecting the enduring human fascination with beauty and preciousness.
Famous people named Gemma
In this section, you will find notable people named Gemma. 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 Gemma who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Gemma 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.
Gemma Arterton is an actress best known for Quantum of Solace, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, and The Disappearance of Alice Creed.
Gemma Chan is an actress best known for Crazy Rich Asians, Eternals, and Humans.
Gemma Collins is a television personality best known for The Only Way Is Essex, Dancing on Ice, and Celebrity Big Brother.
Gemma Whelan is an actress best known for Game of Thrones, The Moorside, and Gentleman Jack.
Fictional characters named Gemma
The following list of fictional characters named Gemma 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.
Gemma is a fictional character from the TV series The 100. She is a member of the Ark and plays a significant role in the survival of her people on Earth.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Gemma, 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 Gemma. 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 Gemma was first seen in the United States in 1904.
Gemma has ranked as high as #377 nationally, which occurred in 2023, and has been most popular in California, Texas, New York, Pennsylvania, and Florida.
In the past 5 years the name Gemma has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Gemma 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 Gemma was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Gemma (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 |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 190 | |
| TX | 145 | |
| NY | 93 | |
| PA | 68 | |
| FL | 65 | |
| IL | 60 | |
| OH | 56 | |
| NJ | 55 | |
| WA | 50 | |
| NC | 43 | |
| VA | 40 | |
| IN | 38 | |
| TN | 35 | |
| UT | 35 | |
| MA | 34 |
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 Gemma.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 1,514 |
| 2023 | 1,653 |
| 2022 | 1,509 |
| 2021 | 1,553 |
| 2020 | 1,387 |
| 2019 | 1,526 |
| 2018 | 1,383 |
| 2017 | 1,253 |
| 2016 | 1,273 |
| 2015 | 1,174 |
| 2014 | 1,219 |
| 2013 | 1,025 |
| 2012 | 1,017 |
| 2011 | 910 |
| 2010 | 683 |
| 2009 | 542 |
| 2008 | 314 |
| 2007 | 218 |
| 2006 | 210 |
| 2005 | 201 |
| 2004 | 147 |
| 2003 | 154 |
| 2002 | 175 |
| 2001 | 155 |
| 2000 | 107 |
| 1999 | 140 |
| 1998 | 111 |
| 1997 | 75 |
| 1996 | 69 |
| 1995 | 97 |
| 1994 | 80 |
| 1993 | 81 |
| 1992 | 59 |
| 1991 | 56 |
| 1990 | 62 |
| 1989 | 45 |
| 1988 | 55 |
| 1987 | 56 |
| 1986 | 47 |
| 1985 | 40 |
| 1984 | 35 |
| 1983 | 39 |
| 1982 | 32 |
| 1981 | 37 |
| 1980 | 46 |
| 1979 | 27 |
| 1978 | 30 |
| 1977 | 31 |
| 1976 | 32 |
| 1975 | 24 |
| 1974 | 29 |
| 1973 | 21 |
| 1972 | 24 |
| 1971 | 31 |
| 1970 | 26 |
| 1969 | 24 |
| 1968 | 26 |
| 1967 | 26 |
| 1966 | 19 |
| 1965 | 40 |
| 1964 | 29 |
| 1963 | 45 |
| 1962 | 28 |
| 1961 | 28 |
| 1960 | 35 |
| 1959 | 45 |
| 1958 | 27 |
| 1957 | 27 |
| 1956 | 38 |
| 1955 | 24 |
| 1954 | 23 |
| 1953 | 26 |
| 1952 | 31 |
| 1951 | 31 |
| 1950 | 41 |
| 1949 | 37 |
| 1948 | 39 |
| 1947 | 14 |
| 1946 | 14 |
| 1945 | 21 |
| 1944 | 11 |
| 1943 | 17 |
| 1942 | 15 |
| 1941 | 10 |
| 1940 | 20 |
| 1939 | 12 |
| 1938 | 10 |
| 1937 | 17 |
| 1936 | 14 |
| 1935 | 11 |
| 1934 | 12 |
| 1933 | 15 |
| 1932 | 11 |
| 1931 | 20 |
| 1930 | 16 |
| 1929 | 13 |
| 1928 | 13 |
| 1927 | 13 |
| 1926 | 18 |
| 1925 | 26 |
| 1924 | 32 |
| 1923 | 27 |
| 1922 | 20 |
| 1921 | 21 |
| 1920 | 30 |
| 1919 | 24 |
| 1918 | 26 |
| 1917 | 28 |
| 1916 | 19 |
| 1915 | 25 |
| 1914 | 23 |
| 1913 | 11 |
| 1912 | 16 |
| 1911 | 12 |
| 1910 | 6 |
| 1909 | 12 |
| 1908 | 5 |
| 1907 | 8 |
| 1906 | 6 |
| 1904 | 5 |