Given name & surname
Lem
“resembling jade; from the woodland”·“devoted to God”·“one who belongs to God”
In English use, Lem is a variant of Lin. One Chinese interpretation is “resembling jade; from the woodland.” Lem is a variant of Lemuel. Interpretations include “devoted to God” (Hebrew) and “one who belongs to God” (Hebrew). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
What it means
In English use, Lem is a variant of Lin. One Chinese interpretation is “resembling jade; from the woodland.” Lem is a variant of Lemuel. Interpretations include “devoted to God” (Hebrew) and “one who belongs to God” (Hebrew). These may reflect different naming traditions.
Explained through its name family
Where it comes from
In English use, Lem is a variant of Lin. An origin associated with Lin is Chinese. Lem is a variant of Lemuel. A possible origin is Hebrew, although the derivation remains uncertain.
Explained through its name family
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1880. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin. Lem is a variant of Lemuel. The history of Lemuel gives this family its wider story. In biblical tradition, Lemuel is the name of a king.
Combines direct and name-family evidence
Lem through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 1,297
- 1,297 boys · 0 girls
- Most popular year
- 1917
- 39 babies
- 2025
- 0
- Outside the ranked list
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- —
- Too few births to compare
By the numbers
The most recent published U.S. birth count for boys is 6 in 1983. Later missing counts do not mean the name went unused. Its largest published annual count for boys was 39 in 1917. Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 477 as a first name in 2020; 1,145 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.
Lem’s family of names
Lem has a related form in Lemuel. In English usage, Lem has a related form in Lin. In English usage, Lem as a surname has a related form in LIM.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 3
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 1
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Lem
- Lem WinchesterAmerican recording artist, vibraphonist, jazz musician, police officer (1928–1961)
- Lem BarneyAmerican football player (born 1945)
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Lem, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Lemyuel
“devoted to God” · “one who belongs to God”
—
Nat
“he has given” · “God has given”
>99% boys
Lemuele
“devoted to God”
>99% boys
Hirem
“my brother has been exalted”
>99% boys
Hyrem
“my brother has been exalted”
—
Jaem
“he who supplants”
91% boys · 9% girls
Lathun
“a gift from God”
>99% boys
Lathin
“a gift from God”
>99% boys