Declining since 2021, #11,932 for girls today.
Popularity of Lema since 1890
Babies named Lema per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 1915, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Lema's real moment was 1895.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls |
|---|---|
| 1890s | 34 |
| 1900s | 33 |
| 1910s | 109 |
| 1920s | 93 |
| 1930s | 36 |
| 1940s | 17 |
| 1950s | 0 |
| 1960s | 0 |
| 1970s | 0 |
| 1980s | 0 |
| 1990s | 0 |
| 2000s | 14 |
| 2010s | 18 |
| 2020s | 26 |
Meaning & origin
Lema is a rare and historical name that saw its peak usage in 1895, when it ranked highest among a small number of births. Since 2021, its trajectory has been falling, and it is now given to only a handful of babies each year. The name is predominantly used for girls and has no strong ties to any specific state or region. Its etymology is uncertain, though it may relate to the Old English word for 'light,' giving it a subtle glow of meaning. For parents seeking a vintage, uncommon name with a soft sound, Lema offers a distinctive choice with a brief but real history in American naming records.
Lema is likely a 19th-century coinage, possibly a variant of Leoma, itself a feminine name derived from the Old English word leoma meaning "light" or "radiance." Alternatively, Lema may have arisen as a short form of the surname Leman or as a respelling of the more common Lina. The name saw modest use in the United States in the late 1800s and early 1900s, peaking in 1895, but has since declined sharply.
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Lee, Lem
Sibling names for Lema
Names that share Lema's style, for a brother or sister.
