An affectionate Italian name that exploded into life in the 80s as
a contemporary of Emma and Jenna.
Origin: |
1. From the Latin gemma meaning "gem," "jewel," or "bud." It is one of the names for the brightest star in the constellation Corona Borealis, the "Northern Crown," literally representing the jewel in the crown. 2. A medieval vernacular English form of James. |
Usage: |
In Medieval Italy, Gemma was used as a pet name for women. In the Florence Catasto of 1427-29 there are 11 women named Gemma listed, alongside other gem-stone names such as Ambra, Diamante and Esmeralda*. A famous example from this time is Gemma di Manetto Donati, the wife of poet Dante Alighieri (1265-1321). In 12th and 13th century Britain, however, Gem or Jem can be found in frequent use as a pet-form of James. A few intriguing examples of Gemma, Gemme, Jemma and Jimme suggest that Gemma was once the vernacular English form of James. Even more intriguing is the usage for both men and women. In 13th century Assize Rolls we find, for example, Jimme wife of Robert (1286) and Gemme brother of Gilbert (1251)*. The derived surnames Gem and Gemson survive from this period, but Gemma's usage as as girl's name all but fell out of use. A few rare examples can be found from the 17th and 18th century, which may be influenced by the Latin term, but they could also represent Gemima, a spelling variant Jemima. The name didn't really come into use again until the 19th century when a handful of registrations occur across the decades. Most certainly, some of them are representative of Italian heritage due to a higher rate of immigration. Gemma particularly grew in the late 1930s when its usage, although small, became consistent every year. From 1935 to 1945 the name averages 5 registrations every year, compared to the average 3 registrations every decade from 1840 to 1900. This increased usage occurred around the time of the beatification of Gemma Galgani in 1933, which was most likely a factor. The name grew in popularity from the 1940s onwards. In 1974 the name did not rank in the Top 100 in England and Wales but by 1984, the name had risen remarkably to #3, with variant Jemma at #56. The most likely explanation for such a meteoric rise lies in the huge popularity of similar-sounding Emma. In 1964 Emma also did not rank in the Top 100, but by 1974 it had shot up to #4. In 1984 it was still at #4, alongside Gemma at #3 and Jenna at #45. In 1994 Gemma ranked at #36 and Jemma at #99. Both names have seen a consistent decline since then. In 2010 Gemma ranked #354 with 128 births; Jemma was at #896 with 39 births. In Scotland the name's decline has been much more gradual, and sustained Top 100 status well into the 2000s. In 1997 Gemma was #38 with 159 births, and was still in the Top 100 by 2008 when it ranked #73. In 2011 the name ranked #161 with 26 births. |
Famous Bearers: |
History: * Gemma di Manetto Donati was the wife of famous 13th century Italian poet Dante Alighieri. Contemporary: * There are several contemporary actresses with the name including: Gemma Arterton, Gemma Atkinson, Gemma Craven, Jemima "Jemma" Redgrave, Gemma Jones and Gemma Ward. |
Variants: |
Jemma |
Pronunciation: |
JEM-ə (UK) [key] |
Sibling Names: |
Lauren Abigail Claire Sarah Amber Holly |
Name Lists: |
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