Pema
Pema is a Tibetan name meaning "lotus", which originated as a loanword from Sanskrit padma. People who have this name as one of their given names include:
Meaning & Origin of Pema
What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.
Pema is a Tibetan name meaning "lotus", which originated as a loanword from Sanskrit padma. People who have this name as one of their given names include:
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
The Story of Pema
Pema first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby girl name in 2001, with 5 babies given the name that year. Its peak popularity came in 2014, when 15 Pemas were born — ranking #7,636 that year. As of 2026, Pema ranks #8,229 for baby girls with 12 births, rising sharply (+24% over the past five years). In total, more than 249 Pemas have been born in the U.S. since records began in 1880, spanning the 2000s through the 2020s.
Popularity Over Time
Popularity by State
Notable people named Pema
A small selection from Wikipedia. Tap "Read more" below to see the full list on Wikipedia.
- Tsundue Pema Lhamo (1886–1922), first queen consort of Bhutan
- Pema Dechen (1918–1991), third queen consort of Bhutan
- Jetsun Pema (born 1990) , queen consort of Bhutan since 2011
Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →
Names that sound like Pema
Phonetically similar names — useful when Pema 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 Pema
What does the name Pema mean?
How popular is Pema in 2026?
When was Pema most popular?
In which U.S. states is Pema most popular?
Is Pema a unisex name?
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About the name Pema
Pema is a girl baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 2001 and has accumulated 249 births in the dataset. Pema's peak popularity came in 2014 when it ranked #7,280. Use the chart and map above to compare Pema's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.
Continue exploring
- Top names of 2014 →
- Names of the 2010s →
- Names starting with "P" →
- Browse all girl names →
- Top names of 2026 →
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.