Jemma

Part of speech: noun, proper noun

Definitions

1. A given name typically used for females ; a surname found in certain cultures ; sometimes an alternate spelling or variant of another familiar female name
2. Used as a personal name most often for women ; occasionally seen as a family name in specific regions ; can function as a variation or derivative of a well-known woman’s name
3. A feminine first name ; a last name in some linguistic or cultural contexts ; a spelling variation or related form of a common female given name

Etymology: Jemma is a diminutive of Gemma, and Gemma itself is an Italian word meaning "gem" or "jewel," borrowed from Latin "gemma" for a bud or precious stone. The name entered English-speaking use largely through the Italian form, and "Gemma" was used in Italy as a given name from the Middle Ages onward, with the Latin word for a jewel or bud carrying over into the personal name. The shorter form "Jemma" is an English-language spelling that reflects the Italian pronunciation's "j" sound, which in English orthography is typically written with a "j" rather than a "g" before "e." It became a familiar affectionate form, and it is also used as a formal given name in its own right. Because "Jemma" is a personal name, its history is mainly a matter of naming tradition rather than a linguistic shift in meaning. Its surname uses are typically drawn from the given name's background and not from a separate word.