Gemar
A name of uncertain origin, possibly derived from the Spanish word "gema" meaning "gem" or "jewel".
Name Census estimates that about 5 living Americans carry the first name Gemar. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Gemar today is around 43 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Gemar births was 1981 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Gemar. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Gemar. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
5
~ 1 in 68,550,868 Americans
Peak year
1981
5 babies that year
Average age
43
years old
1981 SSA rank
#6,619
Tracked since 1981
Popularity
Gemar: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Gemar by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Gemar during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Gemar
The given name Gemar is believed to have its origins in the ancient Germanic language, with roots tracing back to the Early Middle Ages. The name is derived from the Proto-Germanic word "gemaro," which translates to "spear" or "javelin." This connection suggests that the name may have been associated with warriors or soldiers in the early Germanic tribes.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Gemar can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus, a collection of historical documents from the Duchy of Westphalia, dating back to the 9th century. The name appears in several charters and records from this region, indicating its usage among the Germanic populations during that time period.
In the 11th century, a notable figure named Gemar von Leiningen was mentioned in the chronicles of the Benedictine Abbey of Lorsch, located in present-day Germany. Von Leiningen was a nobleman and landowner whose name has been preserved in these historical records, providing evidence of the name's continued use in the region.
During the High Middle Ages, the name Gemar gained recognition through its association with Saint Gemar, a Benedictine monk and scholar who lived in the 12th century. Saint Gemar was known for his scholarly works and contributions to the monastery's library, and his name was revered within the religious community.
In the 14th century, a prominent figure named Gemar von Hatzfeld emerged as a knight and military commander in the service of the Holy Roman Empire. Von Hatzfeld was renowned for his bravery and leadership in various battles, further reinforcing the name's connection with warfare and valor.
Another notable individual bearing the name Gemar was Gemar von Münchhausen, a German nobleman and adventurer who lived in the 16th century. Von Münchhausen gained fame for his tales of exaggerated and fantastical exploits, which later inspired the literary character Baron Münchhausen, known for his outrageous stories.
Throughout history, the name Gemar has maintained a strong presence in Germanic cultures, particularly in regions such as Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. While its usage may have fluctuated over time, the name's roots in the ancient Germanic language and its associations with nobility, warfare, and storytelling have contributed to its enduring legacy.
People
Gemar + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Gemar as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with G
Other first names starting with G with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Gemar: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Gemar?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 5 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Gemar going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 68,550,868 US residents.
Is Gemar a common name?
We classify Gemar as "Very Rare". It ranks above 18.2% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Gemar most popular?
The single biggest year for Gemar was 1981, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Gemar is about 43 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Gemar in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Gemar a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Gemar in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Gemar still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Gemar in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Gemar can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have the name Gemar?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.