UK girl's name
Zema
A feminine name likely derived from the Greek term for "loss".
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.
Zema is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Zema popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2022 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5669, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2017, with 5 births.
This profile covers 14 England and Wales registrations across 4 recorded years from 2017 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 60% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 14 living people in the UK are called Zema. 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
- • Zema ranked #5669 for girls in England and Wales in 2022, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2017, when 5 girls were registered as Zema.
- • About 14 living people in the UK are estimated to have Zema as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5669
2022
Births in 2022
3
Latest year
Peak year
2017
5 births
Estimated living
14
2026
Meaning
What does Zema mean?
The name Zema has its origins in the ancient Slavic languages, tracing back to the 9th century AD in the regions of modern-day Eastern Europe. It is believed to be derived from the Proto-Slavic word "zeml'a," which translates to "earth" or "land." This suggests that the name may have been associated with agricultural or earthy connotations in its early use.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Zema can be found in the Novgorod Birch Bark manuscripts, which are a collection of ancient Slavic documents dating back to the 11th century. These manuscripts provide valuable insights into the everyday life and language of the medieval Slavic people, and the presence of the name Zema within them suggests its usage during that time period.
In terms of historical figures bearing the name Zema, there are a few notable individuals worth mentioning. Zema Huba, a Bohemian nobleman and military leader, played a significant role in the Hussite Wars of the 15th century. He is recorded as being a staunch supporter of the Hussite movement, which sought religious reform in Bohemia.
Another individual of note is Zema Pampylius, a Byzantine scholar and philosopher who lived in the 5th century AD. He is known for his contributions to the field of Neoplatonism and his writings on various philosophical topics, including metaphysics and ethics.
In the realm of literature, there is Zema Rashidovich Bashiri, a prominent Tajik poet and writer who lived from 1944 to 2005. His works were widely celebrated and he is considered one of the most influential figures in modern Tajik literature.
Moving into the 20th century, Zema Sichevych was a Ukrainian artist and painter who lived from 1909 to 1992. She was a member of the influential Avant-Garde movement in Ukraine and her works have been featured in numerous exhibitions and galleries around the world.
Lastly, Zema Hubert was a French-Canadian musician and composer who lived from 1930 to 2008. He is best known for his contributions to the development of the Quebecois folk music genre and for his influential compositions that blended traditional and contemporary styles.
These examples showcase the diverse range of individuals who have carried the name Zema throughout history, spanning various fields and cultural backgrounds. While its origins may be rooted in ancient Slavic languages, the name has transcended geographical boundaries and continues to be used in various parts of the world today.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Zema over time
The chart below shows babies named Zema registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2017 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 Zema, the clearest high point is 2017. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2022, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Zema by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Zema 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 | #5581 | 9 | 3 |
| 2010s | #4063 | 5 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Zema
- Zoe 23,808
- Zara 19,377
- Zainab 9,407
- Zahra 8,438
- Zoya 4,523
- Zuzanna 4,231
- Zaynab 3,722
- Zofia 2,773
- Zaynah 1,472
- Zaina 1,376
- Zoey 1,262
- Zarah 1,167
FAQ
Zema: questions and answers
How popular is the name Zema in the UK right now?
In 2022, Zema was ranked #5669 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Zema most popular?
The peak year on record was 2017, with 5 babies registered as Zema in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Zema?
A feminine name likely derived from the Greek term for "loss".
How many people are called Zema in the UK?
A total of 14 babies have been registered as Zema across the 4 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.