Gemma
First Name Meaning, Usage, Popularity & Related Names
Gemma is an Italian name meaning “precious stone”. It is a popular name, overwhelmingly used for girls, with 99.99% female usage.
Meaning & Origin of the name Gemma
Gemma is an Italian name that evolved from the Latin word meaning a precious stone or jewel. The name was often used as an affectionate title or name in the medieval period, reflecting the value placed upon the individual. In the astronomical context, Gemma identifies the brightest star in the constellation Corona Borealis, highlighting the term's association with brilliance and radiance. Its adoption as a formal name is documented through various historical figures, particularly in the Mediterranean region.
Meaning Comments
- Jefffighter2: Gemma is Latin for both 'bud' and 'gem'.
- Yusufmahamed: This name means "precious stone" in Italian. Her nickname would, no doubt, be "Gem."
- Gostodagata: In Hebrew Gemma means dove but then me being a Gemma Dove generally means peace or peaceful. All the Gemmas I know including me are anything but.
Gender Usage of the Name Gemma
Overall Gender Classification Methodology
Gemma is overwhelmingly used as a name for girls. Approximately 99.99% of recorded bearers are female. This classification is supported by extensive records and is considered highly reliable.
Popularity of the Name Gemma
Gemma is among the Top 30 Trending Girls’ name in the United States for 2026
Gemma is among the Top 78 Trending Girls’ name in Canada for 2025
Note: Green bars show popularity (% of births); the violet line shows historical ranking. Data is based on official government birth records. Click any chart to view details by year and region.
Overall PopularityMethodology
Gemma is listed under Popular Girl Names worldwide. Its popularity is relatively consistent across the available regional markets.
| Region | Popularity | Birth Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| United States | Popular | 1 in every 2.7K births |
| United Kingdom | Popular | 1 in every 2.3K births |
| Canada | Popular | 1 in every 3.3K births |
| Australia | Popular | 1 in every 2.7K births |
Ranking OverviewMethodology
Gemma ranked #299 on the Popular Girls’ Names Worldwide List (2025). It fell from #157 in 2024 — a drop of 142 places. Gemma maintains a steady presence among commonly used names.
Historically, its best recorded position was #100 in 1991. Its lowest recorded position was #2,717 in 1962. Over the last 5 years (2020–2025) the name fell -54 places (from #245 to #299).
Characteristics of the Name Gemma
Pronunciation & StructureMethodology
- Phonetic Source
- CMU
- Syllables
- 2 syllables — Two-Syllable Girl Names
- Length
- 5 letters — Medium-Length Girl Names
- Starts with
- G — Girl Names Starting with G
- Ends with
- a — Girl Names Ending in “a”
Name AestheticMethodology
Gemma is composed of two syllables with an initial stress, creating a compact and pleasant phonetic signature. It is associated with the religious figure Saint Gemma Galgani, contributing to its Beautiful & Charming profile. The double-consonant structure gives the name a soft, resonant finish.
Middle Names For Gemma
Middle names used with GemmaMethodology
Gemma is most frequently used with these girl middle names: Gemma Marie · Gemma Louise · Gemma Ann · Gemma Elizabeth · Gemma OliviaView all 58 girl middle names.
Middle name suggestions for GemmaMethodology
Based on observed first-middle-name pattern combinations, Gemma is most frequently associated with girl middle names that have Strong stress pattern, 5 letters, and a starting sound of “m”.
Examples: Gemma Moore · Gemma Mills · Gemma Marsh · Gemma Marks · Gemma Moose. View all 101 suggested middle names.
Associations of the Name Gemma
Flower AssociationsMethodology
As one of the Flower-Inspired Girl Names, Gemma appears in the scientific names of 4 flower species, including:
- Kefersteinia gemma Rchb.f. — Orchidaceae
- Meiracyllium gemma Rchb.f. — Orchidaceae
Additional Natural MatchesMethodology
The complete dataset includes 7 biological records matching the name Gemma. Browse all matching records with their scientific names and taxonomic details.
Names Similar to Gemma
Sound Like Gemma Finder
Names with the exact same overall pronunciation and sound: Jemma · Jami · Jayme · View all 40 names
Spelled Like Gemma Finder
Names with similar spelling patterns and letter sequences: Gemmah · Gemima · Gema · View all 5 names
Same Starting Sound Finder
Names that begin with a similar phonetic sound: Jennifer · Jessica · Janet · View all Top 100 names
Rhymes With Gemma Finder
Names that share similar ending sounds and rhymes: Patricia · Linda · Barbara · View all Top 100 names
Same Rhythm & Syllables Finder
Names with matching syllable stress and pronunciation rhythm: Mary · Linda · Sarah · View all Top 100 names
Dictionary & Etymology of “Gemma”
Dictionary Meaning of "Gemma"Methodology
A female given name from Italian
Examples
- Gemma. A curious name. He didn't think he had ever come across it before. She would have an outlandish name, either because her equally eccentric parents had labelled her with it or—more likely—she had adopted it herself on the grounds of originality.
- Gemma gave him another gushing smile. She wanted to make amends for almost fouling up Blake's deal. "Gemma. What a beautiful name. You are indeed a jewel."
A bright binary star in the constellation Corona Borealis; Alpha (α) Coronae Borealis
Alternative Forms
Translations
The name Gemma has 8 translations, for example: in Spanish it is rendered as feminine given name, in German it is rendered as Alpha (α) Coronae Borealis, etc..
More Info
How to Spell Gemma in ASL
- G
- e
- m
- m
- a
Comments on the name Gemma
Community CommentsShowing 5 of 40 comments
Electricey3
Since my grandchildren couldn’t pronounce Grandma this was the name that sounded remotely close to what they were calling me! We, especially me, love It!
Attendee1716
Also means game in many different languages.
Poppy_rules9
This name is also used in Catalan, where it is also the word for "gem". The data on the Instituto Nacional de Estadística website shows that it has been in use in Catalonia since before the 1930s (when the records began). [noted -ed]
Liltommy334
Gemma was popular in Australia in the 80's and it's also spelt Jemma.
Bronzedream
This name is also commonly used in The Netherlands. [noted -ed]