What sister names would you suggest for a Gemma? The Baby Name Wizard says Zara, Chloe, Gillian, Felicity, Fiona, Isla. But I wouldn’t go with Chloe: too big a popularity gap. And I wouldn’t go with Gillian: it feels to me like a very different style. I think Felicity sounds too light and tripsy with Gemma: the contrast gives Gemma an unearned stodgy feel. I might think the same about Isla and its lack of strong consonants. I think Fiona works.
I’m undecided about Zara. It could be perfect: if Gemma was chosen because the parents like Emma but found it too popular, Zara could be considered the same sort of twist on Sarah.
One of the reasons I’m a little flummoxed by the name Gemma is that I haven’t encountered it enough to know how to hear it, or to know why parents choose it. IS it chosen as a less-common Emma? Is it chosen for its Italian roots or its English feel? Is it chosen because of the word “gem”—i.e., do parents use it the way they might use Pearl or Ruby or Jade or Jasper? I don’t know whether to put it with Bianca or Harriet, with Avalon or Olive, with Agatha or Adelyn or Audra.
Have you encountered the name Gemma more than I have, and have you had more of a chance to develop a feeling for its style and usage? I would be VERY INTERESTED to hear what you think. And especially I would be interested to hear if you already know of some sibling groups that contain a Gemma.
My BFF had a later in life baby in her second marriage and named her Gemma. Her two girls are L0relai and Audr€y. His daughter from his first marriage is Ril€y.
L0relai, Audr€y, Ril€y and G€mma.
A dear friend is Gem, (last name Stone, no less!) so I heavily considered Gemma, as a link to her. It reads as British to me, despite the Italian background, and I see it as femme without being frilly, and has a sweet, nickname-y quality while being a “full” name. I think it matches well with names like Ada, Blair, Nora, Fiona, Ivy, Hugo, Louis, Rhys, etc. Although my personal preference would be to avoid names ending with -a.
This aligns with my interpretation of the name too. I know one Gemma who has a sister named Brynn.
I don’t know any kid Gemmas. I do know one a fifty-something one, with sisters Gwen and Alix. I don’t know if those are short for anything and if so what. Gwendolyn and Alexandra seem likely but there are other possibilities.
I haven’t encountered many Gemma’s and I actually like it more than Emma. I do think Zara would be a nice pairing. Other names I think work well with it are Claire, Salma and Luna.
I have encountered a few child Gemmas but I don’t know sibling names. I think Sophie, Penelope, or Quinn would work well.
I have a cousin with a baby G€mma. She’s G€mma Blake. Her older sister is Kart€r Reese. They have an older half sis named Elli0t R0se.
A few years ago I watched some YouTube videos about triplets. The vlogger family’s kids’ names stuck out to me because it was the (I think?) the first time I’d heard Royal as a name on an actual child.
The kids’ names were Gemma (oldest), Reese, Royal, Wren (triplets), and Asher.
Gemma makes me think of other ‘modern twist’ type names, I.e. Jaiden, or names with the first letter changed (example that comes to mind is not at all the same vibe, but Robert-with-a-T from Only Murders In the Building.)
I probably wouldn’t choice Gemma myself, so my opinions are reflective of that, but if I were naming a sister of a Gemma, I like Jade and Zara from the names you mentioned. I think I like Zora even better. I’d probably lean into the Italian aspect and/or look for names with an A ending. Ooh I just looked up Italian-English baby names and the sister pair of Gemma and Adelaide is sounding good to me. Although, it runs together when said quickly in that order.
I just spent my morning with a Gemma. I would say that “parents who like on-trend sounds, but want something less common than Emma” is probably a good categorization. With also maybe a bit of liking non-invented names and caring about the name’s meaning Her sister is K@ydence, nickname K@ydee.
I’ll also say that the name goes very well on a seven year old with a sparkly personality.
I grew up in England where Gemma was a popular name for us 80s kids. I consider quite traditional. On my my best friends is named Gemma and her sisters are Sarah and Laura.
Me too. I have Irish cousins in law called Gemma, kat1e, and Patr1c1a. All young adults.
There is a somewhat well-known modern saint named Gemma (St. Gemma Galgani) so many Catholic families are choosing Gemma to honor her. Within that demographic, I would say Felicity is a great sister name, and I might also choose these: Chiara/Claire/Clare, Gianna, Lucy/Lucia, Zelie, Rose.
I know it’s also more used in England and that may be where Zara is coming from as a sister to Gemma.
I answered at the same time, and the overlap on our sister names increases my confidence 😉
it’s not hugely common here, at least not recently (see https://names.darkgreener.com/#gemma)
I know a lot of Gemmas, and most of them are Catholic. With that in mind, I think Felicity works – an on-trend name with a solid Catholic patron saint. Instead of Avalon or Olive, I would expect Avila. Other siblings I might expect? Lucy, Genevieve, Claire, Gianna, Jude, Dominic, Kolbe
If you want more examples, visit Sancta Nomina’s site, and you’ll find lots of sibsets with a Gemma.
I also immediately think of Saint Gemma, so I’d also be suggesting Catholic saint names. Thinking of matching names, from names in the article, I’d keep Felicity. I’d also think of Chiara, Lucy, Gianna (for people who like more “matching” names), Siena.
The only Gemma I know is probably in her 60s, so I don’t have any particular insight on how it’s being used now. It strikes me as familiar, a name that doesn’t feel either ”modern” or “vintage”. Along those lines I can definitely see the suggestions of Claire, Genevieve, Lucia and Zara. I’d also add Claudia, Mira, or Talia.
I encounter Gemma pretty often in Catholic families. And I know one with a sister named Felicity!
Other sibling names include Mia, Gabriel, Cecilia, Dominic, Reina, Finnian, Sebastian, Sofia, Ivy, Damian, and Lucy.
I think Gemma is a real chameleon!
Maybe Ava, Emily, Ella, and Emma got too popular for your liking: Ada, Amelia, Stella, and Gemma
Maybe you like nickname-like names: Beth, Sadie, Kay, and Gemma
Maybe you are blending families with an Avalon and Margaret: Avalon, Margaret, and Gemma
Maybe you like a slightly-European vibe: Zola, Carmen, Bianca, Anita, Lise, and Gemma
Also works in a “pleasant assortment”: Alice, Neeve, Phoebe, and Gemma
Love this answer. It does feel very chameleon-like to me!
US soccer mom here. Completely agree re: Chameleon! I don’t have any particular associations with Gemma besides “name I like”. It appeals to me as a name with easy spelling/pronunciation, probably works pretty well in a range of contexts, probably has some historical weight but without ever being trendy afaik.
I have met 1 Gemma, but she didn’t particularly influence my impression of the name. Personally I wouldn’t expect any particular style of sibling name besides “underused but appealing”. The Catholic association many folks are mentioning is new to me (not a sphere I get much exposure to).
I know one Gemma and her sibling group is Judah and Henry.
i knew a gemma w siblings brigid and clare
I know a family where the eldest is Jemm@ (I don’t like that they went without the G). Sibset is Olivi@, Jess3, and Eth@n.
I never heard the name Gemma until the Sons of Anarchy character. I associate it with the show and Katey Sagal because of this.
I know a Mom named Gemma. She must be 40ish and she is British. She does go by Gem. The name does give me a British vibe.
I also know of an American sibset of H@iley, Leann@, C@rter & Gemm@. They are all elementary age. Maybe the oldest is in middle school now.
Gemma & Lila
Gemma & Tessa
Gemma & Ivy
Gemma & Mila
Gemma & Margot
Gemma & Daphne
Gemma & Liza
Gemma & Marta
Gemma & Linnea
Gemma & Cassia
Gemma & Ingrid
Jemma (with a J) is a darling nickname for Jemima. “Too many racial overtones with Jemima,” one might exclaim. But Jemima has a lovely meaning in our avian-inspired times, and Jemma gives her a non-controversial nickname.
The only Gemma I have met was a pediatric neurologist who went by Gemmi. She was awesome. She also had no siblings.
In a difference world I have a daughter named Jemima. it feels very British to me, Maybe because of the movie Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. I love the feminist overtones of the name Jemima from the Bible (Jemima is one of Job’s daughters and they inherited property like their brothers, which was a first). I also like the idea of a kid introducing themselves as “My name is Jemima but I go by Jemma because the “Mime” is silent”. (Please note, I would never actually name a kid for a pun, and I wouldn’t use Jemima in the American South, which is where I live.)
I have encountered a sibling set – Gemma and Scarlett.
I associate it with and think it pairs well with classic Catholic names, noun names, or slightly British vibes.
The first I heard Gemma was in the 90s on an old Catholic nun. Seemed close to Jenna at the time.
Now the sibsets I’ve heard in kids under 6 is G€mma and Th€a which I think works; and G€mma and 0livia which I’m not as keen on.
The only Gemma I know IRL is an only child, so no sib names. It’s interesting that you think of Gillian as a style mismatch, because to me Gillian w a G is SO English boarding-school girl in the same way that Gemma is so I think they go well! (Jillian with a J is an entirely different name, no I will not be taking any questions at this time 😂) Optimal Gemma sibling names to me I think probably all have that English boarding-school vibe: Louise, Helen, Florence, George, Simon, Christopher.
Actually (as a Brit) I would say Gillian would be seen as more upper class and Gemma would be perceived as more working class in the UK. But kind of hard to compare because Gillian is very much a 1940s-60s peak name and Gemma peaked in the 80s I suspect.
I would love to say that it’s ridiculous that names have class perceptions attached to them… and I do think it’s utterly ridiculous- but also Britain has a bananas deeply ingrained class system and people are constantly making a weird series of judgment calls based on tiny style/lifestyle/language choices near-strangers make, so…
Noooo, class perceptions attached to names is totally a thing in North America too, I get it! It’s just different names and different class perceptions lol. This is good insight on Gillian and Gemma, thank you!
My experience is solely with Brits. My SIL is named Gemma and I knew several others in the older/elder millennial age range when I lived in the UK. It seemed to be of similar popularity/genre as Sophie, Lucy, Olivia and feels to me like a name in its own right vs a version of Emma.
Gemma reads British to me, as I’ve seen Jemma and Gemma on British reality shows. I would absolutely pick Zara for a sibling name as it reminds me of Zara Philips.
I know an 80s Gemma with sisters Lisa and Tessa. Always enjoyed the particular set of names compared with other sib sets I knew.
I guess Australia is another demographic altogether. I don’t think Gemma was ever popular as such, but I knew a few. Gemma always makes me think mid-late 90s high school. Siblings were names like Rachel, Megan and Sophie.
There is a family on yourube with kids names Gabrielle, Gracelyn, Gwen, Gretchen, Gemma, and Jaeger
I grew up going to church with a Gemma from the Philippines (she’s probably in her 50s/eraly 60s now?). I’ve always thought it was a great name, in part because she was so nice.
She named her daughter Andrea, with the on-DRAY-a pronunciation, which I actually think would pair pretty well with Gemma.
I also love Gemma with Georgia (though for many households I know that’d be far too similar!)
I don’t think Gemma is remotely similar to Emma so I think it’s funny when it’s offered up as a less popular alternative to Emma.
I’m currently reading a book where the lead is a British woman named Caroline who is 50. She has a younger sister named Gemma.
My kids are college-age and I can’t remember encountering a Gemma as a peer.
Gemma has always felt like a less common Jenna to me.
I find Gemma fascinating! Because in the UK it’s seen in totally different light to how it’s perceived in the US.
In Britain (or at least in my area of Britain) it was a pretty common 1980s name, so I had at least 3 girls called Gemma in my year. The most common sibling names to Gemma would have been things like Kirsty, Donna, Laura, Rebecca, Abigail, maybe Helen. I think maybe Gemma was the UK’s answer to Jenna? I have never met a small Gemma in my kids’ generation (both under 10) and I assume it’s because it’s in that ‘dated’ window right now. In fact I just looked it up on dark greener and there were 14 babies named Gemma in 2021 in the UK.
My husband is American (and also Italian) and referenced Gemma when we were having our daughter and I nearly fell off my chair. Just WILDLY different reference points on it as a name.
I’m 40 in the U.S. Midwest and I’ve never met a Gemma, big or small…and I happen to be Catholic and still haven’t met a family with one.
The only association ai have with the name is an actress named Gemma Zamprogna (so I guess she had Italian heritage based on the last name), who played the character of Felicity on Avonlea, a TV show in the early 90’s based on books by Lucy Maud Montgomery.
A common, name here in NZ, more Mum generation than kid generation. Chloe and Zara fit perfectly with it to me. I know one family (90s birthdates) who are Gemm@, H@nnah, K@thryn and Annie (short for Rhi@nnon.)
Oh love this thread! I think of Gemma as being very British. I can’t think of other girl names that sound very British to me.. Charlotte? Isla? Amelia? All of those are popular here in the US too. I do know one little Gemma spelled (Jema). The other siblings are Ace + J and Ada + J – I’m just now realizing writing them out like that they are all names on their own plus a J! This family specifically chose all J names.
One of my high school classmates has 2 daughters, Jennings and Jemma. This particular mom’s the daughter of a teacher and an elementary school principal. When I heard her girls’ names my thought was that she had chosen uncommon names (for our area of the deep south) which seems common for educators. All of the teachers I know have given their children top 10 names or bottom 500 names.
The sibling set I know is Aubree, Ashlin, and Gemma. In that group it didn’t feel like a particularly unfamiliar or surprising name, and not until this post did I realize that it is kind of uncommon, especially compared to the others in the sibling set. I quite like it.
I have friend with a Gemma (2010). Her younger sibling is Vera.
I’m now remembering they spell it Jemma! US family.
East coast American here. I’ve met one Gemma in real life. She’s probably 7 or 8 years old now and her siblings are Malcom and Hallie.
The sib set I know is Jemma, Reese and Josephine (nn Josie).
There’s a series of books by Noel Streatfeild about a girl named Gemma who goes to live with her cousins, Ann, Lydia, and Robin
East Coast US here – my only familiarity with the name is the Noel Streatfield books, which I loved as a child in the 80s. Those Gemma “siblings” are Lydia, Ann, and Robin. :)
I only am familiar with Gemma as a name because of name nerd advice columns! I never realized it had an established history, or connotations of British or Catholic. For me, it absolutely reads as modern namer who wants something easy to spell, feminine, and recognizable but underused. Her brother is Boden, her sister is Esme.
I know a Gemma and she has a sibling Z0ey. I think Gemma also sounds great with Lucy.