Gemma Cruz—Araneta is a Filipino politician, writer, director, and beauty queen who won Miss International 1964, becoming the first Filipino and Asian to win the title. She received an "Outstanding Manileña" and a "Golden Heart" Presidential decoration from the former Philippine President Diosdado Macapagal.
Gemma Chan is an English actress. Born and raised in London, Chan attended the Newstead Wood School for Girls and studied law at Worcester College, Oxford before choosing to pursue a career in acting instead, enrolling at the Drama Centre London. Chan was subsequently cast in various supporting roles on television, including Doctor Who, Sherlock, Secret Diary of a Call Girl, Fresh Meat, Bedlam and True Love. She appeared in independent films Exam (2009), Submarine (2010) and Belles Familles (2015). Chan performed in the British premiere of Yellow Face at The Park Theatre and Our Ajax at the Southwark Playhouse.
Since my grandchildren couldn’t pronounce Grandma this was the name that sounded remotely close to what they were calling me! We, especially me, love It!
I named my daughter Gemma in 2019, we call her Gem. I think the name is very beautiful and not overly common. Definitely prefer over Emma which is very overused in my opinion.
― Anonymous User 8/31/2022
6
It's very pretty but somewhat hard to say.
― Anonymous User 7/28/2022
3
Good name.
― Anonymous User 5/26/2022
3
My name is Gemma and I love the nicknames especially ‘Gem’, it’s just pretty and makes me feel happier. There’s also nicknames like Gembo which my parents call me, Gem Gem, Gemmy, GG and more. If ever thinking of a precious name to call a child call them Gemma aka a diamond or jewel.
It was a common name in Australia in the 80’s & 90’s. I love gemstones so think it’s lovely. It’s a name for a special, down to earth and natural kind of girl. Aussie’s affectionately describe lovable places/ people/events as a “gem”. Names like Jade, Pearl, Ruby, Jewel etc seem like the next gen equivalent. The spelling of Jemma just seems like an Americanised version.
Gemma Collins, a dimwitted, overweight blonde who is a popular media personality for Brits. She was bad on Dancing On Ice and was too fat to dance, then afterwards appeared on I'm a Celebrity and didn’t last five seconds there.
Gemma is my name and I like it. I love my nicknames Gem, Gem-Gem, Iced Gem (when little) and Ma. However, when I was at school I wanted a long name that could be shorted to an actual name or a name that was hard to pronounce but I think it was just for the attention at the time. As an adult my name is easy to spell, easy to pronounce and it’s not an unusual name but it’s not massively overused.
Even though Gemma and Charlotte are not very common names in the States, they should still be USAble in America! (Pronounce that out loud as US able) Hope that little joke actually makes a difference someday!
― Anonymous User 3/18/2019
-3
It's weird. I think Gemma sounds youthful and outdated. I guess that means it'll age well?
So pretty and girly. A little sugary when you think of choco or iced gems and such and it sounds a bit like jam, but hey, that's still funny. It is quite a unique name, with a smooth sound to it.
A stronger, cooler, more badass Emma. Emma’s cute. Gemma’s hot.
― Anonymous User 4/30/2018
5
Gemma is my name and I really, really, really love it. I think it is beautiful, like a beautiful gem. I'm named after Gemma Ward, who is beautiful!
― Anonymous User 12/18/2017
1
I love Gemma for a girl's name, I do seem to like g's but it is so much more unique than Emma and sounds if not more nice. Olive is my favourite name at the moment as well as Lana but Gemma is probably overtaking Olive for me. I'm fussy but I think you get a feeling about a name rather. It sounds classy and interesting but not frilly or too long or overused, one doesn't need to be overly feminine to suit it like some names and you wouldn't grow out of it like some too. I don't like it shortened or as much with a j, sorry.
― Anonymous User 11/25/2017
0
My name is Emma but my maternal Grandfather always called me Gemma. I like both names.
This is my name and I find it easy to mispronounce, you would think it's hard to say it incorrectly because it is Gem- ah. Usually people say Gema (with a hard g). Also if you are Hispanic you must get used to people calling you Jema, very soft. It really depends on what you are okay with people calling you, and how often you feel like correcting people. Also, avoid this name if you have a last or middle name that starts with a G because it leads to the nickname Gigi. Otherwise, nicknames like Gem and Emma (even though that is a name on its own) are common. It is hard to twist it to bully on. It is a very elegant name that also could be seen as rebellious when the nickname is Gem. It really depends on what kind of kid you have.
― Anonymous User 8/30/2017
0
Gemma Acheampong is a US-born Ghanaian athlete specialising in the sprinting events. Acheampong holds the Ghanain record in the rarely-contested indoor 300 metres event. She represented Ghana in the 4 × 100 metres relay at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The actress Gemma Arterton also played the title role in a film called "Gemma Bovery", a modern take on Gustave Flaubert's famous novel "Madame Bovary".
― Anonymous User 5/5/2017
2
I have a friend with this name. She's a great girl, but I HATE her name. I prefer Emma by far, and even Jenna (which I don't like either) is better than Gemma.
I love this name. It's uncommon but for some reason there's two girls in my grade at my high school that have this name... and I live in Canada! That sure is a coincidence!
Gemma sounds nice on some people and their personalities, but it doesn't suit some people. The name Gemma means something precious, kind, caring, basically like a gem like in the name GEM-MA. But if you're not like any of those kind people that I've mentioned above, like if you're the opposite, like mean, cruel, a bully, people are going to call you STONE-MA or anything opposite to a gem because if you're horrible and pick on people you don't deserve the name Gemma because it is a nice name. If any of you out there have a child called Gemma teach them some manners and respect for people.
My name is Gemma, and I quite like my name actually. The meaning isn't particularly inspiring but it's not the worst meaning in the world. There are definitely names I like more, but that doesn't make it a bad name either. However, I hate being called Gem or Gemgem. Really rubs me up the wrong way. Just saying.
I believe the Italian pronunciation is more like ZHEM-mah (or ZHEM-muh) than JEM-mah.It also sounds like “let’s go!” in Southern vernacular German (written: “gehen wir”), if the G is voiced “hard”.
― Anonymous User 4/22/2016
-2
I didn't like this name before, but wow it has grown on me! So beautiful! Not as popular as Emma, but amazing! I love the name Emma, and this is similar!
My name is Gemma too! Growing up I didn't like it either. I was called everything that was similar to my name. But I pronounced mine the Spanish way (him-uh) and people tended to like it better. I got the nickname Hemi. It was better then Gem which reminded me of Gym or Jim. ;) But everybody has their own way of pronouncing it, liking it or disliking it it's like potato or pota-TO. ;)
― Anonymous User 2/8/2016
0
I don't like this name. I don't know why, but it sounds plain and boring.
Not too keen with this one Reminds me too much of 'grandma' as though a young child (toddler and baby) trying to say, grandma but comes out as baby talk "Geh ma!"At least spell it as Jemma. I think that's significantly better Gemma: keep wanting to say it as geh ma.
― Anonymous User 9/7/2014
-2
Not an awful name. I just prefer the spelling of "Jemma" a lot more.I can understand what user "ThatMazeRunnerFan" is coming from. Which is why I prefer the other spelling over this. I'm sure they didn't mean any disrespect.
― Anonymous User 1/10/2016
1
Gemma lightbourne, a gymnast who took part in the Glasgow 2014: Commonwealth Games.
― Anonymous User 7/24/2014
1
The name Gemma is classy, beautiful and elegant. Plus the nickname "Gem" is uber cute!
This name is also used in Catalan, where it is also the word for "gem". The data on the Instituto Nacional de Estadística website shows that it has been in use in Catalonia since before the 1930s (when the records began). [noted -ed]
American actress Kristin Davis has a daughter named Gemma Rose.
― Anonymous User 1/5/2012
1
Gemma is the name of a main character on the show, Sons of Anarchy. She is the mother of the protagonist, Jackson and is tough as nails, but with a soft side. She is the matriarch of the biker gang the show is about.
― Anonymous User 10/21/2010
1
This name is also commonly used in The Netherlands. [noted -ed]
Gemma Arteton is a British actress. She's been in 'Tess of the d'Urbervilles' also 'Clash of the Titans' and 'The Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time'.
Gemma is a very pretty name. Much more unique than Emma.
― Anonymous User 8/22/2009
5
To tell the truth this is my real name. It means lots of things like a flower in Mexico, a very precious stone, you might make fun of my name on this one a rose bud, also in a Mexican song.
Gemma is actually my name. I don't particularly like it, partly because most of the other Gemmas I know (which is a LOT) I absolutely detest. Also, it's too common, in my opinion.
"Gemma" it is also a very common Catalan name and its meaning is from the same Catalan word 'Gemma', which means 'precious stone'. It's not a nickname but the word itself used nowadays for defining a precious stone.
I love this name, it's so beautiful and it's given to beautiful women. This name is Italian and Greek, and though it is not common in America, it just means it's given to rare people.
Even though this name has grown on me a little bit more, I still don't like it. I like my name more, Emma. I don't think Gemma, Jenna, and Emma would be a good names for siblings. They sound too similiar and there probably would be quite a bit of confusion as to which name is actually being called.
You'll hate me for saying this, but I really don't like this name. It doesn't sound very pleasant, and I actually thought it was a bastardization of the itself bland Emma. This is a bland name in Britain, and it makes me think of annoying British girls and women for some reason. Maybe I've just turned hopelessly misanthropic, but the name annoys me.
I really like this name. It reminds me of a girl I met in the mall. She was very nice and was Indian. I would recommend this name for people in need of a name for their future girl babies.
― Anonymous User 11/24/2006
4
I love this name! It's not very common where I live, so if I ever had a daughter I would consider naming her Gemma.
It's relatively popular in Scotland for example, actually in most of the English-speaking countries but for some reason not at all in America. Look at the popularity statistics before questioning whether something is popular or not.
― Anonymous User 6/8/2007
8
Jemma Gawned was on Big Brother in Australia and now has her own cosmetics company. She has curly blonde hair and is very pretty, and nice.
A famous bearer of this name is model Gemma Ward. Gemma was born in 1987 at Perth, Australia. Gemma is 178 cm tall and measures a tiny 81-61-89. Gemma is famed within the modelling community for her huge wide-set doe eyes and overall unique appearance.
― Anonymous User 8/22/2005
2
The actress Gemma Jones is in both "Bridget Jones" movies as Bridget's mother. I think she's hilarious.
The word "gemma" is ancient Greek, from the words "ge"-earth and "ma", the archaic type for "meter", mother. "Gema" means "mother earth" in archaic (Mycenaen) Greek. It was the collective name of all the gems. ("Gemolithos", precious stone in Greek; "Gemologia", the study of the gems.)