UK girl's name
Pema
A Sanskrit feminine name meaning "the lotus flower".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2009. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Pema is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Pema popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2009 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3936, with 5 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2009, with 5 births.
This profile covers 5 England and Wales registrations across 1 recorded years from 2009 to 2009. 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.
Pema is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 5 living people in the UK are called Pema. 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 2010 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Pema ranked #3936 for girls in England and Wales in 2009, with 5 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2009, when 5 girls were registered as Pema.
- • About 5 living people in the UK are estimated to have Pema as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#3936
2009
Births in 2009
5
Latest year
Peak year
2009
5 births
Estimated living
5
2026
Meaning
What does Pema mean?
The name Pema has its origins in the Tibetan language and culture, where it has been used for centuries. The name is derived from the word "padma," which means "lotus" in Sanskrit. The lotus flower holds significant symbolism in Buddhism, representing purity, enlightenment, and spiritual awakening.
Pema is a popular name among Tibetan Buddhists, as it is associated with the Buddhist deity Padmasambhava, also known as Guru Rinpoche. Padmasambhava is revered as the second Buddha and is credited with establishing Buddhism in Tibet in the 8th century AD. The name Pema is often given to children in honor of this influential figure.
The earliest recorded use of the name Pema dates back to the 8th century AD in Tibetan Buddhist texts and historical records. One of the most renowned individuals with this name is Pema Lingpa (1450-1521), a Tibetan Buddhist tertön (treasure revealer) and terton (treasure master) who discovered and revealed several important Buddhist teachings and practices.
Another notable figure is Pema Tshering (1770-1845), a Bhutanese Buddhist lama and the founder of the Pema Lingpa school of Nyingma Buddhism. He was influential in preserving and promoting Tibetan Buddhist traditions in Bhutan.
In more recent history, Pema Chödrön (born 1936) is a renowned American Buddhist nun, author, and teacher. She has written several bestselling books on Buddhist philosophy and mindfulness, including "When Things Fall Apart" and "The Places That Scare You."
Pema Dondhup (1928-2011) was a Tibetan politician and diplomat who served as the first kalön tripa (Prime Minister) of the Tibetan government-in-exile from 1991 to 1993.
Pema Tseden (born 1969) is a renowned Tibetan filmmaker and writer, known for his critically acclaimed films that explore Tibetan culture and identity, such as "The Silent Holy Stones" and "Jinpa."
The name Pema continues to be popular among Tibetan Buddhists and those with an appreciation for Buddhist teachings and traditions. It carries a rich cultural and spiritual significance, representing the lotus flower's symbolism of purity, enlightenment, and spiritual growth.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Decades
Pema by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Pema 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 | #3936 | 5 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Pema
- Poppy 52,802
- Phoebe 47,609
- Paige 24,717
- Penelope 13,109
- Pippa 6,346
- Polly 5,678
- Philippa 4,446
- Penny 4,394
- Paris 4,372
- Piper 3,961
- Pearl 3,516
- Paisley 3,419
FAQ
Pema: questions and answers
How popular is the name Pema in the UK right now?
In 2009, Pema was ranked #3936 for girls in England and Wales, with 5 births registered.
When was Pema most popular?
The peak year on record was 2009, with 5 babies registered as Pema in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Pema?
A Sanskrit feminine name meaning "the lotus flower".
How many people are called Pema in the UK?
A total of 5 babies have been registered as Pema across the 1 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.