The baby name Gemma combines all the sparkle of Ruby or Emerald with history and substance to spare.
Thanks to Nessa for suggesting our Baby Name of the Day.
GEMSTONE
In Latin, gemma refers to a precious stone. The word is unchanged in Italian. In English, it’s shortened to just plain gem.
It may have started out as an endearment before it became an independent name.
But it’s recorded as a given name for centuries. Medieval Italian poet Dante Alighieri dedicated his poems to Beatrice, but he married the well-born Gemma Donati. That makes it a girl’s name of Italian origin, and a shorter one than elaborate favorites like Francesca and Alessandra.
NIGHT SKY
There’s more than one way to sparkle.
Stargazers can claim the baby name Gemma, too.
That’s thanks to the constellation Corona Borealis, listed way back in the second century by Ptolemy. It’s the northern crown – said to be gifted from the god Dionysus to the princess Ariadne.
Today we call the brightest star in the constellation Alphecca – or Alpha Coronea Borealis. But it was long known as Gemma – jewel or precious gem.
What else belongs in a crown?
SAINT GEMMA
Maria Gemma Umberta Galgani was born in a small town in Italy in 1878. Her family moved to a larger town for more opportunities, but illness and tragedy followed. By the age of eighteen, Gemma was orphaned and raising her younger siblings while working as a housekeeper.
Just a few years later, the always devout Gemma started to experience the stigmata – bleeding from her hands and feet, in imitation of the crucifixion. She died at the age of 25.
By 1933, Gemma was beatified. Her canonization followed in 1940.
JAMES and JEREMY
One more possible origin for the baby name Gemma comes via the classic James.
Once upon a time, Jem served as a short form for James. That means that Jemma – or Gemma – could be a perfectly reasonable feminine form. Of course, Jem also connects to Jeremy – as in, famously, Jeremy “Jem” Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird. So Jemma might be a feminine form of Jeremy, too.
BY THE NUMBERS
The baby name Gemma caught on in England in the 1980s.
Some of the most famous Gemmas are British. Actresses Gemma Jones (she played Madame Pomfrey in the Harry Potter movies), model Gemma Ward, ballerina Gemma Bond, and actor Gemma Arterton from Clash of the Titans, Quantum of Solace, and Prince of Persia.
But in the United States, Gemma remained rare during the twentieth century.
Only in the 1990s – while Jenna faded and Emma rose – did American parents begin to discover Gemma.
The original version of this post ran in 2008, when the name was new to the US Top 1000 at #889. It predicted that the baby name Gemma seemed “likely to do well in the next few years.” An understatement, indeed. By 2011, the name had reached #356.
And as of 2021, the baby name Gemma stood at #191, making this a fast-rising favorite.
When this post originally ran in 2008, Gemma had just nudged into the Top 1000 at #889. I guessed that Gemma was “likely to do well in the next few years.” That might have been an understatement. By 2011, she was at #356. That’s a quick rise, fueled in part by her jewel box meaning, and in part by her similarity to recent chart-topper Emma.
As for Jemma, at #598, it lags well behind the G spelling. Though it’s been used over the ages, too – there’s Jemma Redgrave, for one, of the famous British acting family. (Though in her case, Jemma is short for Jemima, a problematic choice in the US.)
GEMMA DOYLE
Fans of American author Libba Bray might think of her trilogy, all set in the late nineteenth century and focused on Gemma Doyle. She’s a young woman, sent from British India to board at the mysterious Spence Academy following the death of her mother.
It turns out that all is not as it seems at Spence, and Gemma is connected to a supernatural legacy – and a tragedy that happened in the past.
The story unfolds over the course of three books, published in 2003, 2006, and 2007.
Name fans loved the series, with other characters called Pippa and Felicity. It’s likely that some of the baby name Gemma’s early use was inspired by Libba Bray’s novels.
DAUGHTER OF ANARCHY
One of the reasons for the baby name Gemma’s rapid rise?
Katey Sagal played tough-as-nails matriarch Gemma Teller Morrow on Sons of Anarchy. Maybe a motorcycle gang matriarch seems like strange inspiration for a baby name, but the numbers bear it out.
Sons of Anarchy debuted in 2008, the same year the baby name Gemma debuted in the US Top 1000. The original series ran through 2014. Spin-off series Mayans M.C. debuted in 2018, and Gemma has made a guest appearance.
A handful of other uses have kept the name in the public eye, too. In the UK, Gemma Atkinson appeared on long-running British soap opera Hollyoaks, along with other spin-offs and television series.
GEMMA CHAN
Gemma Chan is the latest to put the name in the spotlight.
The London-born actress graduated from supporting roles to stardom with Crazy Rich Asians in 2018, followed by Raya and the Last Dragon and The Eternals.
Chances are that Chan’s success has boosted the name’s popularity even more.
SPARKLING and SUBSTANTIAL
Of course, the baby name Gemma might’ve caught on even without the many pop cultures references.
We love Emma and Ruby, plus so many G/J names for girls. The baby name Gemma picks up on all of these trends and more.
For parents wild about Stella and Luna, but after something just a little less popular – but still perfectly wearable – the baby name Gemma could be exactly the right choice.
What do you think of the baby name Gemma?
First published in 2008, this post was revised substantially on December 10, 2012, and again on February 10, 2021 and January 11, 2023.
I’m pretty nonplussed about Gemma, I’ve never given the name any thought which is probably down to her fairly popular status in the UK as has been pointed out. Even if I put that aside, I’m still not a huge fan of her – as has been mentioned she sounds quite childlike and because of that I have a job to take her seriously as a given name.
Yep, Shannon, three syllables. Makes me want to weep. I’ve heard Gianna in Italian and it’s lovely. In Yank it gets slaughtered. 🙁
I like Gemma. I agree it fits with the current trends but sounds fresh because it’s rare in the US. I think it ages well… I don’t associate it with any particular age, probably because there are so few people here with the name. Lola, how do people pronounce Gianna? I know how it would be said in Italian but do people say “jee-ANN-a”?
Oh, and Gemma Valentine ___? Gorgeous!
Lola, I wondered if you’d consider Jemma as a nickname for Jemima! In that case, I think the J is just fine.
It’s interesting to read the reaction that Gemma might not age well. I hadn’t considered it, but that’s a fair point. Then again, the nursing homes will be filled with Jennys a generation earlier, so maybe it won’t sound so strange after all.
I can see Gemma as a nickname for Imogen, mostly because in the US, both names are so rare that few of us would catch on that it’s a stretch. In a place where both names are more popular, it might present a challenge. Or not. My sense is that people generally call your children whatever *you* call your children. It’s not like toddlers are regularly asked for ID. 🙂
I do quite like Gemma – though I can’t see her on someone older than 40. Anyway – she has a beautiful bouyant / sunny feel to her which draws me in! She’s rather common down here in Australia – I know one who’s 16, two who are my eldest’s age (around 4), and one – a Jemma – who’s in my mother’s group for the twins (born in June).
I like Gemma. We might use it as a nickname for our Imogen (yes, it’s a little stretch, but that’s OK with us)… I don’t love it. Maybe because I have a jewel name and I don’t want it to even appear to her that I’ve named my girl for me – we certainly did not! But it’s a cute nickname. As a full name, I’m not as sure… I don’t take it seriously… so maybe if the child ends up in the arts, that’s fine, but in the business world, Gemma doesn’t work for me. I worked with a Gemma in the UK – she was a lovely girl, but looked like a barbie doll and kind of acted a little on the girlie-girl side. So the name has that bubblegum pink association with it for me. Love it as a nickname, not as sure as the full first name for me… I do like the Italian association too! I hadn’t thought about that – I encountered the name in the UK, so just associated it with England previously.
Yes! I’m so happy to see Gemma featured here. She’s one of my absolute favorites. I love the British-ness of it (my family is very British so I have a fondness for British names in general, especially Gemma and similar Phillipa and Jemima). It’s so fresh and always excites me. I really love her!
I have a fondness for Gemma but would probably use Jemma, as a nickname for Jemima. My Pop was a Jeweler, specialising in watches and diamonds, in particular. So Gemma rather reminds me of him. Oooooh, Gemma Valentine __ maybe? Gemma beats the mispronounced Gianna in my book. Very nice, Gemma! I find her refreshingly lovely. But my heart loves Jemma for Jemima far more.
Gemma is one of my very favorites. I knew a girl named Gemma once and she was SO cool… I really can’t imagine someone named Gemma not being awesome. It’s had so many interesting bearers! I like that it sounds really new and fresh, but has such a long history as an actual name. She’s sweet like Emma, but the G makes her so hip and fun. Few names pack such a punch, and in so few letters! I normally don’t like jewel names, either (except Pearl, I LOVE Pearl, and Opal… pretty much hate all the others, though), so it’s a little strange that I adore Gemma so much. But oh, I just LOVE her!