Lem
A boy's name of Hebrew origin with 1,297 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
A surname.
Lem is a boy's baby name of Hebrew origin, a short form of Lemuel, from the Hebrew Lemuel meaning 'devoted to God' or 'belonging to God.' Lemuel was a king mentioned in the Book of Proverbs.
Lem carries the compact, rural American charm of 19th-century names — straightforward and unpretentious, with a genuine biblical foundation. Mark Twain used Lem as a character name, giving it a distinctly American vernacular quality.
EtymologyShow more
In the American context, Lem is a boy's name with over a century of recorded use (1880–1983). Its Hebrew roots connect it to a broader naming tradition, but in practice, American usage often reshapes names — adding nicknames, shifting pronunciation, and building new associations that diverge from the original cultural context.
Though no longer in the top 1,000, Lem’s 1,297 recorded births mean it has left a mark. Every name carries the accumulated identity of the people who have worn it — and Lem has decades of that history.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Lem has 90+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1880.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 6 | ▼ |
| 1970s | 11 | ▼ |
| 1960s | 44 | ▼ |
| 1950s | 90 | ▼ |
| 1940s | 129 | — |
| 1930s | 139 | ▼ |
| 1920s | 239 | ▲ |
| 1910s | 222 | ▲ |
| 1900s | 86 | ▼ |
| 1890s | 155 | ▼ |
| 1880s | 176 | — |
The Story of Lem
A Greatest Generation name
Peaking in 1917, Lem is a name steeped in history. Boys named Lem are most likely born between 1907 and 1927.
How rare is Lem?
With 1,297 total births on record, Lem remains a rare and distinctive pick.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1880, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1920s with 239 births that decade, and has since become a rare, vintage choice.
Lem by the numbers
- Would fill 27 school buses
- Meeting one Lem per day would take 3.6 years
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(90 years, 1880–1983)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 6 | #5930 |
| 1977 | 5 | #6427 |
| 1971 | 6 | #4702 |
| 1969 | 5 | #4760 |
| 1966 | 5 | #4286 |
| 1965 | 5 | #4229 |
| 1964 | 8 | #3175 |
| 1963 | 6 | #3857 |
| 1961 | 5 | #4407 |
| 1960 | 10 | #2786 |
| 1959 | 7 | #3457 |
| 1958 | 6 | #3758 |
| 1957 | 8 | #3153 |
| 1956 | 8 | #3100 |
| 1955 | 6 | #3722 |
| 1954 | 9 | #2862 |
| 1953 | 7 | #3287 |
| 1952 | 10 | #2612 |
| 1951 | 14 | #2104 |
| 1950 | 15 | #1979 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lem a boy's or girl's name?
When was Lem most popular?
How popular is the name Lem?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1880–1983