Declining since 2021, #10,917 for girls today.
Popularity of Gem since 1914
Babies named Gem per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2016, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Gem's real moment was 2022.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 5 |
| 1920s | 0 |
| 1930s | 0 |
| 1940s | 6 |
| 1950s | 14 |
| 1960s | 5 |
| 1970s | 18 |
| 1980s | 18 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 34 |
| 2010s | 62 |
| 2020s | 55 |
Meaning & origin
Gem is a concise word name drawn from the world of precious stones, a category that has long appealed to parents seeking elegant, nature-inspired names for their daughters. Its history as a given name in the United States dates back to at least 1914, though it has never been common. In recent years, Gem experienced a modest uptick in usage, reaching its peak rank in 2022. However, its trajectory has been falling since 2021, suggesting a brief period of curiosity rather than a lasting trend. The name appears in no top states, indicating that its use is distributed thinly across the country, rather than concentrated in a particular region. For parents drawn to short, sparkling names like Ruby or Pearl, Gem offers a rare but recognizable alternative.
Gem is a word name derived from the Old French 'gemme' and Latin 'gemma', meaning 'bud' or 'jewel'. It has been used as a given name since the 19th century, often as a diminutive of Gemma or simply as a virtue name evoking something precious. Its usage in the United States has been sporadic, with a modest peak in the 2020s.
Nicknames & variants
Variants: Gemma
Sibling names for Gem
Names that share Gem's style, for a brother or sister.
