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At a Glance: Name: Jemima – Meaning: dove – Origin: Hebrew – Gender: primarily used for girls – Pronunciation: juh-MY-muh
Jemima is a Hebrew name with a meaning of 'dove.' You might see it described elsewhere as meaning 'dove' and 'pure,' but only 'dove' actually comes from the Hebrew root — the 'pure' part looks like an addition that isn't backed up. It's also sometimes assumed to be a feminine version of James, though that turns out to be folk etymology rather than fact.
Meaning & Origin of Jemima
Meaning: Dove.
Origin: Hebrew.
A common claim: Dove; pure Actually: The Hebrew root supports 'dove,' but not 'pure' — that appears to be an added embellishment. Jemima is also sometimes thought to be a feminine form of James, but Wiktionary identifies that as folk etymology.
Source: Wiktionary.
How to Pronounce Jemima
Phonetic: juh-MY-muh IPA: /dʒəˈmaɪmə/
Popularity of Jemima
According to Social Security data covering 1881 through 2024, Jemima's high point was #713 back in 1885, when 10 babies were given the name — by 2024 it had drifted down to #3024, with 54 babies recorded that year.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1881–2024.
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Names With a Similar Story
Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.
FAQ
What does the name Jemima mean?
Dove. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Jemima)
How do you pronounce Jemima?
Jemima is pronounced juh-MY-muh (IPA: /dʒəˈmaɪmə/).
Is Jemima a popular name right now?
Jemima peaked at #713 in 1885 and is ranked #3024 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1881–2024.)
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