Skip to content
Name Lineage

    The first name Jemima

    A girl’s name from Hebrew meaning “dove”.

    Pronounced /d͡ʒəˈmaɪmə/ 3 syllables Female

    Meaning and origin

    Hebrew origin

    Jemima means “dove” in Hebrew.

    From the name of a minor biblical character, from Hebrew יְמִימָה (“dove”). By folk etymology also used as a feminine form of James.

    More names that mean bird.

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    In 2025, 90 girls were named Jemima, making it the 444th most popular girls’ name. It peaked in 2008, with 339 births (#157).

    0200400 1996200020052010201520202025
    6,544
    babies named Jemima, 1996–2025
    #444
    rank in 2025
    2008
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Jemima with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Jemima at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 43 girls born in the United States were named Jemima, the 3,544th most popular girls’ name that year. It was used most in 2018, when 64 were.

    03570 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    1,832
    babies named Jemima since 1880
    #3,544
    rank in 2025
    2018
    peak year

    US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

    Jemima in other languages

    Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary

    Jemina
    Finnish

    Nicknames and spellings

    Nicknames for Jemima

    Other spellings and forms

    • Gemima

    Famous people named Jemima

    7 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Jemima Kirke
      British-American artist and actress, born 1985
    • Jemima Montag
      Australian racewalker, born 1998
    • Jemima Goldsmith
      British screenwriter, television, film and documentary producer, born 1974
    • Jemima Rooper
      British actress, born 1981
    • Jemima West
      French actress, born 1987
    • Jemima Blackburn
      British artist (1823-1909)
    • Jemma Redgrave
      British actress, born 1965

    More Hebrew girls’ names

    All 346 names of Hebrew origin

    Questions

    What does the name Jemima mean?
    Jemima means “dove” in Hebrew.
    What is the origin of the name Jemima?
    From the name of a minor biblical character, from Hebrew יְמִימָה (“dove”). By folk etymology also used as a feminine form of James.
    How popular is the name Jemima?
    In 2025, 90 girls born in England and Wales were named Jemima, ranking 444th. Its peak was 2008, with 339 births.
    What are nicknames for Jemima?
    Common nicknames for Jemima include Jem.
    Is Jemima a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a girl's name: 100% of the 1,832 US babies named Jemima since 1880 were girls.
    When was Jemima most popular?
    2018 in the United States, when 64 babies were named Jemima, its highest rank at 2,697th.
    How do you pronounce Jemima?
    Jemima is /d͡ʒəˈmaɪmə/, 3 syllables.
    What are other spellings of Jemima?
    Gemima.