Pemela
A girl's name of Greek origin with 5 recorded U.S. births.
Meaning & Origin
Pemela sits in the vintage zone of American naming: first recorded in 1966, peaking in 1966, with 5 total births across its history.
The open, warm quality of its ending — a soft ending that crosses many language boundaries — gives it a distinctive rhythm that pairs well with shorter middle names or surnames.
Pemela is not in the current top 1,000 girl names nationally, making it an uncommon choice — though your state or community may differ.
Pemela is a girl's baby name of Greek origin, a rare variant spelling of Pamela meaning 'all honey,' first coined by poet Sir Philip Sidney in his 1590 pastoral Arcadia. The Pe- opening offers a subtle but distinctive visual departure from the standard spelling.
EtymologyShow more
Though Pemela dates back to 1966 in U.S. records, its etymological path is not always straightforward. Names that predate modern naming databases sometimes resist easy classification — they may have been oral traditions, regional family names, or adaptations that were never systematically recorded. The Greek classification provides a starting point, but the full derivation likely involves more nuance than a single label can capture.
With only 5 recorded births, Pemela has not been widely studied in naming literature — its story belongs primarily to the families who chose it.
At a Glance
Popularity Over Time
Pemela has 1+ years of history in the U.S., first appearing in 1966.
Popularity by Decade
| Decade | Births | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 5 | — |
The Story of Pemela
A Gen X name
Peaking in 1966, Pemela is a Gen X staple. Girls named Pemela are most likely born between 1966 and 1966.
How rare is Pemela?
With fewer than 500 recorded births, Pemela is an exceptionally rare name — a one-of-a-kind choice.
The journey through the decades
First appeared in the records in 1966, peaked in the 1960s with 5 births that decade.
Year-by-Year Data
View complete yearly data(1 years, 1966–1966)
| Year | Births | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 1966 | 5 | #7330 |
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration. Showing years with 5+ recorded births.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Pemela a boy's or girl's name?
When was Pemela most popular?
How popular is the name Pemela?
Explore More
Data source: U.S. Social Security Administration, 1966–1966