UK name, mostly boys
Gem
A precious stone, used as a metaphor for someone valuable and treasured.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2005. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Also recorded as a girls' name in the UK, with 7 girls.
Gem is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Gem popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2005 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3849, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2001, with 4 births.
This profile covers 20 England and Wales registrations across 6 recorded years from 1997 to 2005. 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 75% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 20 living people in the UK are called Gem. 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 2006 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Gem ranked #3849 for boys in England and Wales in 2005, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2001, when 4 boys were registered as Gem.
- • Gem is also recorded for girls, but the boys side is the larger UK variant in these records.
- • About 20 living people in the UK are estimated to have Gem as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 74.1% of Gem registrations are for boys.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3849
2005
Births in 2005
3
Latest year
Peak year
2001
4 births
Estimated living
20
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Gem
In England and Wales birth records, Gem has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 74.1% of registrations are for boys and 25.9% are for girls.
These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.
Gem registered for boys
- Ranked #3,849 in 2005
- 3 boys registered in 2005
- Peak: 2001 (4 births)
Gem registered for girls
- Ranked #5,876 in 2012
- 3 girls registered in 2012
- Peak: 2007 (4 births)
Meaning
What does Gem mean?
The name Gem is a modern English name derived from the word "gem" referring to a precious or semi-precious stone. Its origins can be traced back to the Latin word "gemma" meaning a bud or jewel. The name likely emerged in the English language during the late 19th or early 20th century as a given name for girls.
In ancient times, gemstones were highly valued for their beauty, rarity, and believed to possess mystical properties. They were often associated with wealth, power, and even spiritual significance in various cultures. The use of the word "gem" as a name may have been inspired by these positive connotations and the desire to bestow a name that symbolizes something precious and valuable.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Gem was in the late 19th century. Gem Littler, an English actress born in 1892, was known for her performances in various plays and pantomimes during the early 20th century.
Another notable bearer of the name was Gem Munro, a Canadian artist and sculptor born in 1905. She is best known for her sculptures depicting the lives of indigenous peoples in Canada, and her work is featured in several museums across the country.
In the world of sports, Gem Naysh was an English footballer who played as a goalkeeper for various clubs in the early 20th century, including Fulham and Brentford. He was born in 1893 and played professionally from 1912 to 1928.
Gem Archer, born in 1966, is an English musician and songwriter best known as a founding member and guitarist of the British rock band Oasis. He has also worked with other artists and released solo material.
Gem Schubert, born in 1966, is an Australian artist and designer known for her intricate and detailed drawings and illustrations. Her work has been featured in various exhibitions and publications worldwide, and she has received numerous awards and accolades for her artistic achievements.
While the name Gem is relatively uncommon, it has been used throughout history as a given name for girls, often drawing inspiration from the precious gemstones and their symbolic meanings of beauty, value, and rarity.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Gem over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Gem in England and Wales, from 1997 to 2012. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Gem, the clearest high point is 2001. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2005, compared with 4 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Gem by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Gem 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | #3196 | 17 | 5 |
| 1990s | #2859 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Gem
- George 121,258
- Gabriel 20,581
- Grayson 7,636
- Gregory 2,925
- Guy 2,646
- Gareth 2,092
- Gethin 1,880
- Georgie 1,872
- Gary 1,575
- Gavin 1,422
- Giovanni 1,252
- Grant 1,199
FAQ
Gem: questions and answers
How popular is the name Gem in the UK right now?
In 2005, Gem was ranked #3849 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Gem most popular?
The peak year on record was 2001, with 4 babies registered as Gem in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Gem?
A precious stone, used as a metaphor for someone valuable and treasured.
How many people are called Gem in the UK?
A total of 20 babies have been registered as Gem across the 6 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.