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Kem
How to Pronounce Kem
Pronounced KEM /ΛkΙm/High
Meaning: A short form of Kim, itself usually from Kimberly β an English place name (Kimberley) meaning roughly 'Cyneburga's field or fortress meadow.' Kem is a trimmed, K-crisp variant.Low
Popularity in the U.S. Β· SSA data
U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880βpresent). Pink marker = peak year.
SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.
History & Origin
Kem reads as a short form of Kim, which usually comes from Kimberly β an English place name (Kimberley) tied to a woman's name Cyneburga plus 'field' or 'meadow.' Kem keeps the crisp single syllable while nudging the vowel from 'i' to 'e.'
Kem stayed very rare, reaching a small high in the early 1960s before fading. It reads as a period short form; distinctive and brief, but firmly of its era.
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Frequently Asked
What does the name Kem mean?
Kem is a short form of Kim or Kimberly, an English place name meaning roughly 'Cyneburga's field or meadow.'
How do you pronounce Kem?
It's said KEM /kΙm/ β one syllable.
Is Kem a boy or girl name?
Kem is used here as a girl's name.
How popular is Kem?
Kem has always been very rare, given to only a handful of girls a year around its peak.