Meaning & origin
What it means
Gem is a diminutive of Gemma. Gemma means “jewel.”
Adapted from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Where it comes from
Gem is a variant of Gemma. An origin associated with Gemma is Latin.
Explained through its name family
How it developed
In English usage, Gem is a diminutive of Gemma.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1914. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Gem through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 222
- 5 boys · 217 girls
- Most popular year
- 2022
- 18 babies
- 2025
- 8
- #11,266 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −2%
- Steady
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 8 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 11,266 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 11.5% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 14 in 2016. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 660 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Gem’s family of names
In English usage, Gem is a diminutive of Gemma. In Greek usage, Gem is a transliteration of Τζεμ. Gem has a related form in Gemma.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 1
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 6
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
Similar names
If you love Gem, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Lemon
“resembling the fruit”
>99% girls
Rosey
“from the field of roses” · “horse”
>99% girls
Marilla
“of the shining sea”
>99% girls
Vesper
“evening star; born in the evening”
5% boys · 95% girls
Florencia
“a flourishing woman; a blooming flower”
>99% girls
Wren
“resembling a small songbird”
13% boys · 87% girls
Maren
“of the sea; a seaman; a sailor” · “woman of the sea”
>99% girls
Winter
“born during the winter season”
6% boys · 94% girls