NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Cem

Turkish masculine name meaning "an intrinsic value or worth".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Cem is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Cem popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4270, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1997, with 25 births.

This profile covers 362 England and Wales registrations across 28 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

The latest count is about 16% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 359 living people in the UK are called Cem. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Cem ranked #4270 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 4 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 1997, when 25 boys were registered as Cem.
  • About 359 living people in the UK are estimated to have Cem as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#4270

2024

Births in 2024

4

Latest year

Peak year

1997

25 births

Estimated living

359

2026

Meaning

What does Cem mean?

The name Cem has its origins in the Turkish language, and it is believed to have emerged during the Ottoman Empire era, which spanned from the late 13th century to the early 20th century. The name is derived from the Persian word "jem," which means "cup" or "goblet." This connection likely stems from the ornate and elaborate cups or goblets that were highly valued in Ottoman culture and often adorned with intricate designs and precious materials.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Cem can be found in the 15th century, when it was used by Cem Sultan, the younger son of Sultan Mehmed II, the conqueror of Constantinople. Cem Sultan's full name was Şehzade Cem, and he was a prominent figure during the Ottoman-Mamluk War, where he sought to seize the throne from his brother, Bayezid II. Although his bid for power was ultimately unsuccessful, his name has been preserved in historical records.

Another notable figure bearing the name Cem was Cem Karaca, a Turkish rock musician and songwriter who was born in 1945 and passed away in 2004. Karaca was a pioneering figure in the Anatolian rock movement and is widely regarded as one of the most influential and iconic musicians in Turkey. His music blended traditional Turkish folk elements with Western rock and roll, creating a unique and captivating sound.

In the realm of literature, Cem Akaş is a well-known Turkish writer and poet who was born in 1946. His works often explore themes of love, loss, and the human condition, and he has received numerous accolades and awards for his contributions to Turkish literature.

Moving to the world of sports, Cem İlkay was a Turkish football player who played as a forward for various clubs, including Fenerbahçe and the Turkish national team, between the 1960s and 1970s. He was known for his goal-scoring prowess and was a key player in Fenerbahçe's successful campaigns during that era.

Lastly, Cem Özdemir is a prominent German politician of Turkish descent who was born in 1965. He is a member of the Alliance '90/The Greens political party and has served as a member of the Bundestag, the German federal parliament, since 1994. Özdemir has been a vocal advocate for environmental issues, human rights, and integration policies.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Cem over time

The chart below shows babies named Cem registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Cem, the clearest high point is 1997. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2024, compared with 25 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Cem
06131925199620102024

Decades

Cem by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Cem was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2020s #3206 24 4
2010s #2621 81 10
2000s #1140 177 10
1990s #820 80 4

Notable bearers

Famous people named Cem

  • Cem Öğretir

    television presenter

    Turkish newscaster (born 1973)

    1973-

Related

Names similar to Cem

FAQ

Cem: questions and answers

How popular is the name Cem in the UK right now?

In 2024, Cem was ranked #4270 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.

When was Cem most popular?

The peak year on record was 1997, with 25 babies registered as Cem in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Cem?

Turkish masculine name meaning "an intrinsic value or worth".

How many people are called Cem in the UK?

A total of 362 babies have been registered as Cem across the 28 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.