Lemma
A girl's name of Greek origin with 262 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
A female given name.
Lemma is a girl's baby name of Greek origin, from the Greek lemma meaning 'theme' or 'premise' — used in logic and mathematics for a subsidiary proposition. It is also used as a given name in Ethiopian tradition, where it appears as a masculine name meaning 'to be green' or 'to flourish' in Amharic.
Lemma's dual heritage makes it a rare bridge between intellectual precision and the organic vitality of East African naming traditions.
EtymologyShow more
The ending of a name often carries more etymological information than the beginning. Lemma's final sounds are open, warm — a soft ending that crosses many language boundaries. In English-language naming, many feminine names end on open vowels or soft consonants, creating a melodic, approachable quality. Lemma follows that feminine pattern.
Explore the ending-based name pages on this site to find names that share Lemma's suffix pattern — names with similar endings often share a style and era, even when they come from different linguistic backgrounds.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Lemma has 36+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1880.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 1940s | 21 | ▲ |
| 1930s | 10 | ▼ |
| 1920s | 62 | ▼ |
| 1910s | 82 | ▲ |
| 1900s | 32 | — |
| 1890s | 34 | ▲ |
| 1880s | 21 | — |
The Story of Lemma
A Greatest Generation name
Peaking in 1918, Lemma is a name steeped in history. Girls named Lemma are most likely born between 1908 and 1928.
How rare is Lemma?
With fewer than 500 recorded births, Lemma is an exceptionally rare name — a one-of-a-kind choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1880, grew steadily over the decades, peaked in the 1910s with 82 births that decade, and has gracefully settled into a quieter chapter.
Lemma by the numbers
- Would fill 5 school buses
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(36 years, 1880–1948)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1948 | 5 | #5652 |
| 1946 | 5 | #5350 |
| 1942 | 5 | #5018 |
| 1941 | 6 | #4208 |
| 1937 | 5 | #4615 |
| 1933 | 5 | #4571 |
| 1928 | 6 | #4480 |
| 1927 | 11 | #2970 |
| 1925 | 13 | #2704 |
| 1924 | 7 | #4242 |
| 1923 | 6 | #4710 |
| 1922 | 5 | #5424 |
| 1921 | 8 | #3858 |
| 1920 | 6 | #4687 |
| 1919 | 12 | #2739 |
| 1918 | 13 | #2596 |
| 1917 | 8 | #3540 |
| 1916 | 12 | #2579 |
| 1914 | 8 | #2766 |
| 1913 | 12 | #1838 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lemma a boy's or girl's name?
When was Lemma most popular?
How popular is the name Lemma?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1880–1948