Jem
Jem is a given name, sometimes as a nickname for James, Jeremiah, Jeremy, Jemma, or Jemima, and sometimes as an anglicized version of the Turkish name Cem.
- English
Meaning & Origin of Jem
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Jem is a given name, sometimes as a nickname for James, Jeremiah, Jeremy, Jemma, or Jemima, and sometimes as an anglicized version of the Turkish name Cem.
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Cultural Origins (via Behind the Name)
- English
The Story of Jem
As a girl name
The earliest SSA record of Jem as a girl name dates back to 1986, when 5 babies received it. 1987 was its biggest year on record, with 11 newborns named Jem — #6,335 in the national rankings. The 1980s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 30% of all recorded Jems. Its most recent appearance in the national data came in 2024 (6 births); the name has since faded from the published rankings. In total, more than 102 Jems have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1980s through the 2020s.
As a boy name
Jem first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a boy name in 1963, with 5 babies given the name that year. The name hit its high-water mark in 2021: 9 births, good for #8,161 nationwide. The 2020s were its strongest decade, accounting for roughly 34% of all recorded Jems. Its most recent appearance in the national data came in 2023 (7 births); the name has since faded from the published rankings. In total, more than 64 Jems have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 1960s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Variants & Related Forms of Jem
Foreign forms, alternate spellings, and nicknames that share roots with Jem. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Names that sound like Jem
Phonetically similar names — useful when Jem is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.
Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.
Frequently Asked Questions about Jem
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About the name Jem
Jem is a unisex baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1986 and has accumulated 102 births in the dataset. Jem's peak popularity came in 1987 when it ranked #6,335. Use the chart and map above to compare Jem's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 1987 →
- Names of the 1980s →
- Names starting with "J" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
- Browse unisex names →
Data sources
- Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
- Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
- Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
- Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
- Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .
Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.