Jem
A English diminutive of the name Jeremiah.
Name Census estimates that about 161 living Americans carry the first name Jem. It appears on both sides of the gender split, with 61.4% of registrations being female. The average person named Jem today is around 22 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Jem births was 2021 (14 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Jem. 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.
People living today
161
~ 1 in 2,128,909 Americans
Peak year
2021
14 babies that year
Average age
22
years old
2023 SSA rank
#10,176
Tracked since 1963
Gender
Gender distribution for Jem
Jem is one of the more evenly split names in the SSA data. Of the 166 total registrations, 64 (38.6%) were male and 102 (61.4%) were female.
Jem as a male name
- Ranked #10,176 in 2023
- 7 male births in 2023
- Peak: 2021 (9 births)
Jem as a female name
- Ranked #14,182 in 2024
- 6 female births in 2024
- Peak: 1987 (11 births)
Popularity
Jem: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Jem from the 1960s through to the 2020s, spanning 7 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 49 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Jem 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 Jem during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Jem
The name Jem is a diminutive form of the name James, which has its origins in the Hebrew name Jacob. Jacob was a prominent figure in the Old Testament, and his name means "supplanter" or "one who follows." The name James was adopted into English from the French Jacques, which in turn came from the late Latin Iacomus and the Greek Iakōbos.
The first recorded use of Jem as a diminutive for James dates back to the 16th century in England. It was a common nickname used for those named James, particularly in the working class and among the less affluent. The name gained popularity due to its informal and affectionate nature.
One of the earliest notable figures with the name Jem was Jem Belcher, an English boxer who lived from 1781 to 1811. He was a celebrated pugilist and is considered one of the pioneers of modern boxing. His nickname, "The Nailer," added to his fame and helped popularize the diminutive form of his name.
Another historical figure with the name Jem was Jem Mace, an English boxer who lived from 1831 to 1909. He was a prominent figure in the early days of professional boxing and held the heavyweight championship of England from 1861 to 1862.
In literature, one of the most famous characters with the name Jem is Jem Finch from Harper Lee's classic novel "To Kill a Mockingbird," published in 1960. The character, whose full name is Jeremy Atticus Finch, is the son of the protagonist, Atticus Finch, and serves as a central figure in the novel's exploration of themes such as racism, injustice, and moral courage.
Another notable literary figure with the name Jem is Jem Merlyn from the novel "Watership Down" by Richard Adams, published in 1972. Jem is one of the rabbits in the story and is known for his bravery and loyalty to his warren.
In the world of music, one of the most famous individuals with the name Jem is Jem Cohen, an American independent filmmaker and photographer born in 1962. His works often explore themes of urban life, subcultures, and social issues.
While the name Jem may have originally been a diminutive form of James, it has since become a distinct name in its own right, with a rich history and cultural significance across various fields, from literature and sports to music and film.
People
Jem + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Jem as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with J
Other first names starting with J with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Jem: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Jem?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 161 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Jem 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 2,128,909 US residents.
Is Jem a common name?
We classify Jem as "Very Rare". It ranks above 71.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 166 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Jem most popular?
The single biggest year for Jem was 2021, when 14 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Jem is about 22 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Jem a female name?
Yes, 61.4% of people registered as Jem in the SSA data are female. 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.
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.