Kemi

At a Glance: Name: Kemi – Meaning: cherish/pamper me – Origin: Yoruba – Gender: Girl – Pronunciation: KEM-ee

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Kemi is a Yoruba name, pronounced KEM-ee, with a meaning of 'cherish me' or 'pamper me.' You may see it described elsewhere as meaning 'joy,' but that's not what the sourced etymology shows. It's a short, clean, modern choice for parents who want a name with real linguistic roots.

Meaning & Origin of Kemi

Meaning: Cherish/pamper me.

Origin: Yoruba.

A common claim: Often said to mean 'joy' or 'the one who brings joy' Actually: Kemi is better documented as meaning "cherish me" or "pamper me," rather than "joy."

Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.

How to Pronounce Kemi

Phonetic: KEM-ee   IPA: /ˈkɛmi/

Popularity of Kemi

Kemi reached its highest U.S. usage in 1978, ranking #4354 with 16 babies given the name that year. By 2024, it had fallen to #9871 with just 10 babies, based on Social Security data spanning 1961 to 2024.

Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 1961–2024.

Make Kemi Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Kemi, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.

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.

• Farah
• Ida
• Lita
• Meara
• Mele
• Ziyi

FAQ

What does the name Kemi mean?

Cherish/pamper me. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Kemi)

How do you pronounce Kemi?

Kemi is pronounced KEM-ee (IPA: /ˈkɛmi/).

Is Kemi a popular name right now?

Kemi peaked at #4354 in 1978 and is ranked #9871 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1961–2024.)

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