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The short answer
Gemma is a feminine name of Italian origin, pronounced JEM-ə in English. Behind the Name describes it as a "medieval Italian nickname meaning 'gem, precious stone'" and notes that it was borne by the wife of the 13th-century poet Dante Alighieri. Today it is used in Italian, Catalan, British English and Dutch; Jemma is the British English variant and Gema the Spanish form. In the United States, Gemma ranked #170 for girls in 2025, according to the Social Security Administration.
Meaning and etymology
Behind the Name gives Gemma as a "medieval Italian nickname meaning 'gem, precious stone'". It records that the name "was borne by the wife of the 13th-century Italian poet Dante Alighieri". The entry lists usage in Italian, Catalan, British English and Dutch, with the pronunciations /ˈd͡ʒɛm.ma/ (Italian), /ˈʒem.mə/ (Catalan) and /ˈɣɛ.maː/ (Dutch); no English IPA is given. Jemma is listed as a British English variant and Gema as the Spanish form.
Editorial confidence: established
Linguistic roots
| Language | Form | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Medieval Italian | Gemma | gem, precious stone |
Popularity
Gemma ranked #170 for girls in the United States in 2025 (Social Security Administration). No other national rankings were checked in this pass.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #170 | ssa-2025 |
Nicknames, variants, and related names
Nicknames: None documented.
Variants: Jemma
Related names: Gema
What the name feels like
Gemma is a crisp two-syllable name with a soft consonant opening and the familiar -emma ending it shares with Emma. It feels warm and slightly European without being difficult for English speakers, and its transparent meaning gives it a jewel-name quality without the trendiness of Ruby or Pearl.
Style tags: Italian, vocabulary meaning, two syllables, British favourite
Editorial interpretation: These style impressions are editorial opinion, not linguistic fact. Behind the Name lists no nicknames for Gemma. The English respelling JEM-ə is editor-supplied; the entry gives IPA only for Italian, Catalan and Dutch.
If you like this name
Names that share Gemma's Italian origin, its jewel meaning or its sound.
Similar by sound
Similar by origin
Similar by meaning
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Gemma mean?
Gemma means "gem, precious stone". Behind the Name describes it as a medieval Italian nickname.
Is Gemma a popular name?
Gemma ranked #170 among girls' names in the United States in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.
How do you spell Gemma?
Gemma is the Italian spelling. Behind the Name lists Jemma as a British English variant and Gema as the Spanish form.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Gemma — supports etymology, meaning, usage, non-English pronunciations, variants, Dante's wife.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.
