Rhema
A feminine name derived from the Greek word meaning "utterance" or "thing spoken".
Name Census estimates that about 1,160 living Americans carry the first name Rhema. It is a predominantly female name (98.3% of registrations). The average person named Rhema today is around 14 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Rhema births was 2024 (99 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Rhema. 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
- • Rhema is a relatively new arrival in the SSA data. The average bearer is just 14 years old, meaning it gained most of its traction in the last two decades.
People living today
1.2K
~ 1 in 295,478 Americans
Peak year
2024
99 babies that year
Average age
14
years old
2024 SSA rank
#2,090
Tracked since 1981
Gender
Gender distribution for Rhema
Rhema leans heavily female at 98.3% of total registrations, but 20 boys have also been registered with the name over the years, giving it a small but present crossover presence.
Rhema as a male name
- Ranked #10,647 in 2024
- 7 male births in 2024
- Peak: 2022 (7 births)
Rhema as a female name
- Ranked #2,090 in 2024
- 92 female births in 2024
- Peak: 2024 (92 births)
Popularity
Rhema: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Rhema from the 1980s through to the 2020s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 408 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
Rhema 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 Rhema during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Rhemas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 10 states and territories. Texas, California, Georgia recorded the most babies named Rhema, while Virginia, North Carolina, Michigan recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 20 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Rhema
The name Rhema originates from the Greek language and is derived from the word "rhema," which means "an utterance" or "a spoken word." This name has its roots in ancient Greek culture and can be traced back to the 1st century CE.
Rhema is a name with strong religious connotations in Christianity. It is mentioned in the New Testament of the Bible, particularly in the Book of Romans, where the apostle Paul uses the term "rhema" to refer to the spoken word of God. This association with the divine word has given the name a spiritual significance.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Rhema can be found in the writings of the early Christian theologian and scholar, Origen (185-254 CE). He used the term "rhema" extensively in his works, further cementing its connection to Christian theology.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals who bore the name Rhema. One of the most famous was Rhema of Caesarea (c. 312-335 CE), a Christian martyr who was executed for her faith during the reign of the Roman Emperor Maximinus II. Her unwavering devotion to Christianity and her willingness to sacrifice her life for her beliefs made her a revered figure in early Christian history.
Another prominent figure with the name Rhema was the 6th-century Byzantine scholar and philosopher, Rhema of Alexandria. He was renowned for his contributions to the fields of logic and metaphysics, and his works were widely studied in the Byzantine Empire.
In the Middle Ages, Rhema was the name of a nun who lived in the 12th century. She is known for her spiritual writings and her unwavering commitment to the monastic life. Her works, which focused on the contemplative aspects of Christianity, were widely read and influential among religious communities of the time.
In more recent times, Rhema was the name of a 19th-century African-American woman, Rhema Sutton (1818-1892), who was a prominent educator and activist in the fight for equal rights. She founded one of the first schools for African-American children in Pennsylvania and was a vocal advocate for the abolition of slavery.
Another notable individual with the name Rhema was Rhema Marvanne (1888-1965), a British actress and singer who enjoyed a successful career on the stage and in early films during the early 20th century. She was known for her performances in Shakespearean plays and her skills as a vocalist.
People
Rhema + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Rhema as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with R
Other first names starting with R with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Rhema: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Rhema?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1,160 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Rhema 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 295,478 US residents.
Is Rhema a common name?
We classify Rhema as "Rare". It ranks above 91% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,175 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Rhema most popular?
The single biggest year for Rhema was 2024, when 99 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Rhema is about 14 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Rhema a female name?
Yes, 98.3% of people registered as Rhema 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.