Given name & surname
Gemma
“gem, jewel”·“as precious as a jewel”·“gem”
Gemma is used as a given name and a surname. Interpretations include “gem, jewel”, “as precious as a jewel” (Latin), and “gem” (Italian). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
Interpretations include “gem, jewel”, “as precious as a jewel” (Latin), and “gem” (Italian). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Where it comes from
An origin associated with this spelling is Latin.
How it developed
From Latin gemma (“jewel”), from Italian Gemma.
Adapted from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0)
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1904. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Gemma through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 26,042
- 0 boys · 26,042 girls
- Most popular year
- 2025
- 1,805 babies
- 2025
- 1,805
- #170 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- +18%
- Rising
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 1,805 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 170 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 17.8% higher in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. In 2025, California had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (221). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 19,024 as a first name in 2020; 768 as a surname in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Gemma’s family of names
In English usage, Gemma has a diminutive in Gem. In Latin usage, Gemma has a later derivative in Gema. Gemma has an alternative spelling in Jemma.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Around the world
Gemma has relatives in 3 languages. Lines run from its Latin roots to each of them.
5 related names in 3 languages. Point at a dot, or tab to the map and use the arrow keys.
Nicknames & forms 7
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 3
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Gemma
- Gemma ArtertonBritish actressborn 1986
- Gemma ChanBritish actress (born 1982)
- Gemma GalganiItalian saint (1878-1903)
- Gemma FrisiusFrisian physician, mathematician and cartographer (1508–1555)
- Gemma JonesBritish actressborn 1942
- Gemma WardAustralian model and actressborn 1987
- Gemma AtkinsonBritish actress and modelborn 1984
- Gemma WhelanEnglish actress (born 1981)
- Gemma GibbonsBritish judokaborn 1987
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
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—
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—