Origin, Meaning, And History Of Jemima
Jemima is a lovely name for a baby girl with Hebrew origins. In the Hebrew language, it means ‘dove’ and comes from the ancient Hebrew term ‘Yemimah,’ which is mentioned in the Old Testament as one of the three daughters of Job. Although the name is mentioned in Hebrew texts, the exact roots of the name are not entirely clear. Job resided with his family in the land of Uz, which is believed to be near Arabia. Many linguists believe that the name Jemima comes from the Arabic terms ‘hamama’ or ‘yemema,’ which mean dove. Another related Hebrew word in the Bible is yamimah, whose root is ‘yowm.’ It means ‘warm day.’ So many scholars believe that the name Yamimah, from which Jemima derives, means ‘like the day’ or ‘bright as day.’
Jemima became a prevalent English given name during the Puritan era, which can be attributed to its biblical status. Puritans became prominent in the 17th century and demanded moral and religious sincerity in the way of life. They aimed to bring about this earnestness by reforming the Church.
The Hebrew language has several variants of this name, including Jamina, Jemimah, Jeminah, Jemmie, Jemmimah, Jemmy, Mima, and Mimma.
In contemporary times, the name is popular due to the famous Aunt Jemima brand of pancake mix. At the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, Aunt Jemima’s Flour hired Nancy Green, an African-American woman, to promote the brand’s name. Green was a very popular actress, which increased the popularity of the brand. The face of Aunt Jemima became the standard for convenience breakfast foods until 2020.
Jemima appears in popular culture as well.Jemima “Jem” Walkeris the sister of Kieren in the In The Flesh series.Jemima Pottsis the adorable girl in the book Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. The name also appears as Jemimah in Antonia Fraser’s crime series, Jemimah Shore Investigates.
How To Pronounce Jemima?
Famous People With The Name Jemima
- Jemima Marcelle GoldsmithEnglish screenwriter and producer known for serving as the European editor-at-large for the American magazine Vanity Fair.
- Jemima WestFrench actress known for her work in the film adaptation of The Mortal Instruments: City of Bone
- Jemima WilkinsonAmerican religious leader known for finding the unorthodox Christian sect, the Universal Friends
- Jemima AbeyEnglish actress known for her work in Hex and Coronation Street
- Jemima RooperEnglish actress known for playing the lead role in the play Her Naked Skin
- Jemima NicholasWelsh heroine during the 1797 Battle of Fishguard
Jemima On The Popularity Chart
Up until 1996, Jemima was not very popular. But after 1999, it showed an upward trend with brief periods of decline in years like 2001, 2005, and 2008.
Popularity Over Time
The name’s popularity reached a peak in 2018 before a steep decline. In 2021, only 40 babies per million got this name.
Source:Social Security AdministrationRank Over Time
The name’s rank has improved since 1997. However, it still doesn’t figure in the list of the top 1000 names as can be deduced from this graph.
Source:Social Security AdministrationNames With Similar Sound As Jemima
Jemima has a unique and classic feel to it. If you like its sound, here are some more options
Popular Sibling Names For Jemima
Other Popular Names Beginning With J
Names With Similar Meaning As Jemima
Want more names that mean dove for your little one? Here are some more options for you.
Infographic: Know The Name’s Personality As Per Numerology
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How To Communicate The Name In Other Languages
In Nautical Flags
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In Sign Language
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In Braille Alphabet
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In Morse Code
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Name Numerology For Jemima
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is the meaning of the name Jemima?
The name Jemima means ‘dove.’
2. What is the origin of the name Jemima?
Jemima has a Hebrew origin.
3. How to pronounce the name Jemima?
Jemima is pronounced as jeh-mai-muh.
4. Is it Gemima or Jemima?
Gemima is the Italian spelling of Jemima. It could also be one of the rarer English variants of Jemima. Hence, parents can use whichever spelling they prefer.
5. Is Jemima more commonly used as a first name or a middle name?
Jemima is often used as a first name. However, some parents could use Jemima as a middle name to honor an ancestor or to get a particular set of initials.
