Jemima

Jemima, the name of a strong and beautiful Biblical daughter of Job, has long been among the chicest choices of aristocratic Brits, and has since shifted to be used more generally too, replacing Gemma/Jemma as a way to nickname "Jem". In a recent year, it featured in the England and Wales Top 500.

Brought into common English usage by the Puritans, alongside her Biblical sister, Keziah, Jemima is often interpreted as meaning "dove", likely from yona. However, it may be more accurate to say it relates to yomam meaning "daytime" or "day-by-day", which are equally bright and lovely.

Some famous (and notably British) namesakes are Beatrix Potter's Jemima Puddle-Duck and characters in Chitty, Chitty, Bang Bang, Cats, Thackeray's Vanity Fair, and Elizabeth Gaskell's Ruth.

Jemima was well used by the Puritans, as was that of her sister, Keziah. Some other famous namesakes A real-life bearer is Jemima Kirke, who plays Jessa on Girls(and who happens to have a sister named Domino and a son named Memphis). Jemimah is a variant spelling, as seen in the Antonia Fraser crime series Jemimah Shore Investigates.

In the US, however, Jemima is not so well used. Despite its appealing sound and Biblical nature, it is often dismissed due to the problematic association with racial stereotyping, exemplified by the Aunt Jemima brand of pancakes. In a recent year, 54 girls were named Jemima, while Dove was given to nearly 130, and Jemma to 370.

Pronounced juh-MY-muh.

As of October 2026, Jemima ranked #3544 in US births in 2025 SSA, peaked at #713 in 1885, Nameberry popularity #577.