Lema

♀ Girl

Pronounced LEE-muh /ˈliː.mə/Medium

Meaning: A short name with no single documented route. It sits close to the Arabic Lama, a name describing a dark shading of the lips, and to Lena and Lila; it is also read simply as a modern coinage. Routes are uncertain.Low

In 30 seconds: A short soft name: Lema sits near Lena and the Arabic Lama (said 'LEE-muh'). Routes uncertain.

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Origin LowEnglish, Arabic

MeaningA short name with no single documented route. It sits close to the Arabic Lama, a name describing a dark shading of the lips, and to Lena and Lila; it is also read simply as a modern coinage. Routes are uncertain.

U.S. rank (2022)#11790 ↗ Rising

2022 U.S. births8 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year1915

Total births (all-time)≈ 373

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Lema has no firmly recorded etymology. Its nearest documented neighbours are the Arabic Lama, a poetic beauty name, and Lena, a short form of names like Helena and Magdalena; it also reads plainly as a modern two-beat coinage. The sources do not settle which route a given family has in mind, so we present Lema honestly as a short name of uncertain origin (said 'LEE-muh').

It appears only in very small numbers in the U.S. Rare, short, and soft.

Did you know? Lema's nearest documented neighbour is the Arabic Lama, a poetic name for the dark shading of the lips - a resemblance in sound, which we offer as an echo rather than a source.

Overall data confidence 28%

References - Lema — Short modern name; Arabic Lama and Lena as sound neighbours

Variations

LamaLeemaLemma

Nicknames

LemLeeMimi

Famous Bearers

Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Lema…

Lena— a near neighbour in sound

Lila— a like short soft name

Layla— a like L- girls' pick

Amara— a like warm two-beat choice

Explore names like Lema

By themeuncertain modern short soft

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Lema mean?

Lema is a short name echoing Lena and the Arabic Lama; there is no single documented route, which we note honestly.

How do you pronounce Lema?

It's said LEE-muh /ˈliː.mə/ - two syllables, stress on the first.

Is Lema a boy or girl name?

Lema is used as a girl's name.

How popular is Lema?

Lema is extremely rare in the U.S.