Jaima

Meaning & origin

Jaima is a rare feminine name that first entered U.S. birth records in 1972 and reached its peak usage in 1978. While its exact meaning is debated, it is generally understood as a creative variant of either Jaime (the Spanish form of James) or Gemma, the Latin 'gem.' The name has always been uncommon; it has never appeared in national rankings and is given to fewer than five girls per year in recent decades. Since 2022, usage has been slowly rising, possibly reflecting a broader trend toward soft, vowel-ending names. The name is most often associated with English and Spanish-speaking families, though its top states of usage have been too scattered to form a clear regional pattern.

Jaima likely originated as a feminine variant of Jaime, the Spanish and Portuguese form of James, which derives from Latin Iacomus, ultimately from Hebrew Ya'aqov. Alternatively, it may be a Modern English respelling of Gemma, from Latin for 'gem' or 'precious stone.' The name first appeared in U.S. records in 1972, with peak usage in 1978, and has seen a small revival since 2022.