Holding steady.
Popularity of Pema since 2001
Babies named Pema per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2014, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Pema's real moment was 2022.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Girls | Boys |
|---|---|---|
| 2000s | 60 | 0 |
| 2010s | 110 | 12 |
| 2020s | 55 | 0 |
Meaning & origin
Pema, meaning 'lotus,' is a Tibetan name with deep Buddhist associations. It first appeared in U.S. data in 2001 and reached its peak popularity in 2022, though it remains rare with zero recorded births per 1 million in some years. The name is strongly tied to Tibetan culture and spirituality, often given to honor religious traditions. Its stable trajectory suggests it is a niche choice outside of Buddhist communities.
Pema is the Tibetan word for 'lotus,' a sacred flower in Buddhism symbolizing purity and enlightenment. The name is commonly used in Tibetan Buddhist communities and is often given as a spiritual name. It is also a variant of Padma, the Sanskrit term for lotus, which appears in Hindu and Buddhist traditions.
“Pema” around the world
Where Pema lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
5
babies in 2024
Sources: INSEE (France).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Pem
Variants: Padma
Sibling names for Pema
Names that share Pema's style, for a brother or sister.
