Zema
A feminine name likely derived from the Greek term for "loss".
Name Census estimates that about 158 living Americans carry the first name Zema. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Zema today is around 7 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Zema births was 2019 (21 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Zema. 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
158
~ 1 in 2,169,331 Americans
Peak year
2019
21 babies that year
Average age
7
years old
2024 SSA rank
#7,932
Tracked since 2011
Popularity
Zema: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Zema from the 2010s through to the 2020s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 87 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
Zema 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 Zema 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 Zema
The name Zema has its origins in the ancient Slavic languages, tracing back to the 9th century AD in the regions of modern-day Eastern Europe. It is believed to be derived from the Proto-Slavic word "zeml'a," which translates to "earth" or "land." This suggests that the name may have been associated with agricultural or earthy connotations in its early use.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Zema can be found in the Novgorod Birch Bark manuscripts, which are a collection of ancient Slavic documents dating back to the 11th century. These manuscripts provide valuable insights into the everyday life and language of the medieval Slavic people, and the presence of the name Zema within them suggests its usage during that time period.
In terms of historical figures bearing the name Zema, there are a few notable individuals worth mentioning. Zema Huba, a Bohemian nobleman and military leader, played a significant role in the Hussite Wars of the 15th century. He is recorded as being a staunch supporter of the Hussite movement, which sought religious reform in Bohemia.
Another individual of note is Zema Pampylius, a Byzantine scholar and philosopher who lived in the 5th century AD. He is known for his contributions to the field of Neoplatonism and his writings on various philosophical topics, including metaphysics and ethics.
In the realm of literature, there is Zema Rashidovich Bashiri, a prominent Tajik poet and writer who lived from 1944 to 2005. His works were widely celebrated and he is considered one of the most influential figures in modern Tajik literature.
Moving into the 20th century, Zema Sichevych was a Ukrainian artist and painter who lived from 1909 to 1992. She was a member of the influential Avant-Garde movement in Ukraine and her works have been featured in numerous exhibitions and galleries around the world.
Lastly, Zema Hubert was a French-Canadian musician and composer who lived from 1930 to 2008. He is best known for his contributions to the development of the Quebecois folk music genre and for his influential compositions that blended traditional and contemporary styles.
These examples showcase the diverse range of individuals who have carried the name Zema throughout history, spanning various fields and cultural backgrounds. While its origins may be rooted in ancient Slavic languages, the name has transcended geographical boundaries and continues to be used in various parts of the world today.
People
Zema + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Zema as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with Z
Other first names starting with Z with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Zema: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Zema?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 158 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Zema 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 2,169,331 US residents.
Is Zema a common name?
We classify Zema as "Very Rare". It ranks above 71% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 159 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Zema most popular?
The single biggest year for Zema was 2019, when 21 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Zema is about 7 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Zema a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Zema 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.