UK girl's name
Lema
A name of uncertain meaning, possibly having African origins.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2022. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Lema is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Lema popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2022 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4645, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2010, with 8 births.
This profile covers 64 England and Wales registrations across 13 recorded years from 2004 to 2022. 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 50% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 64 living people in the UK are called Lema. 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 2023 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Lema ranked #4645 for girls in England and Wales in 2022, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2010, when 8 girls were registered as Lema.
- • About 64 living people in the UK are estimated to have Lema as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4645
2022
Births in 2022
4
Latest year
Peak year
2010
8 births
Estimated living
64
2026
Meaning
What does Lema mean?
The name Lema has its roots in several cultures and languages across the world. It is believed to have originated in Africa, where it may have derived from the Swahili word "lema" meaning "to speak" or "to utter." Alternatively, it could also trace its origins to the Greek word "lema" which means "an assumption" or "a premise."
In Ethiopia, the name Lema is commonly used and has been documented in historical records dating back to the 16th century. It is thought to have been derived from the Amharic word "leman" which means "resilient" or "steadfast." One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Kebra Nagast, an important literary work from the 14th century that chronicles the lineage of the Solomonic dynasty in Ethiopia.
Another possible origin of the name Lema can be traced to India, where it may have been derived from the Sanskrit word "lema" meaning "border" or "limit." In some regions of India, the name is also associated with the Hindu goddess of wealth and prosperity, Lakshmi.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Lema. One such figure was Lema Habte-Mikael (c. 1768-1825), an Ethiopian military leader and nobleman who played a significant role in the conflicts against the Adal Sultanate in the early 19th century.
Another prominent bearer of the name was Lema Belai (c. 1870-1955), an Ethiopian politician and diplomat who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs under Emperor Haile Selassie in the 1920s and 1930s.
In the realm of literature, Lema Hawi (1923-1992) was an Eritrean writer and poet whose works explored themes of nationalism and resistance against colonial rule. His collection of poems, "Khaki Nebri," published in 1950, is considered a seminal work in Eritrean literature.
Lema Konda (c. 1920-2000) was a renowned artist from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, known for his intricate woodcarvings that depicted scenes from daily life and traditional folklore.
Lastly, Lema Kadi (born c. 1970) is a contemporary Sudanese writer and activist, whose works have focused on women's rights and social justice issues in her home country.
These examples highlight the rich cultural diversity and historical significance associated with the name Lema across various regions and time periods.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Lema over time
The chart below shows babies named Lema registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2004 to 2022. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Lema, the clearest high point is 2010. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2022, compared with 8 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Lema by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Lema 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 | #4272 | 9 | 2 |
| 2010s | #4352 | 39 | 8 |
| 2000s | #3539 | 16 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Lema
- Lily 72,956
- Lucy 70,663
- Lauren 50,664
- Leah 33,185
- Lola 24,525
- Layla 24,520
- Laura 23,471
- Lilly 21,714
- Lydia 18,353
- Libby 14,515
- Lara 13,415
- Lacey 13,406
FAQ
Lema: questions and answers
How popular is the name Lema in the UK right now?
In 2022, Lema was ranked #4645 for girls in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Lema most popular?
The peak year on record was 2010, with 8 babies registered as Lema in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Lema?
A name of uncertain meaning, possibly having African origins.
How many people are called Lema in the UK?
A total of 64 babies have been registered as Lema across the 13 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.