My DH has recently fallen in looooove with this name and even refers to our baby as Gemma or Gemmie non stop (I'm 19 weeks).
I really like it! I think it's pretty and unique (at least in North America... I know it's quite common in the UK and Australia). But I worry that people won't "get" it and often think she's saying Jenna. I also worry that it is too close to Emma, which is suuuuper popular right now.
What do you think? Are there any Gemmas on the board?
honeydew / 7303 posts
I really like it! It sounds classy and I don't know any irl so it's nice that it's not too popular
hostess / wonderful watermelon / 39513 posts
It is a pretty name but I could never use it because it would remind me of Gemma on SOA.
pear / 1787 posts
@autumnlove: ohhh i've never watched it but have seen people reference this character. maybe that would make it better because at least people here would know it's an actual name?!
my top two right now are Rose and Willa... I just don't know if I'm ready to commit to Gemma as a front runner.
hostess / wonderful persimmon / 25556 posts
@loki: I think all three are beautiful. And I'm sure if you don't live in the states, people will not think of a chain smoking, murderess (character) when they hear Gemma. 
pear / 1787 posts
@mediagirl: we are in canada but have friends who watch SOA, from what i can tell.
none of the issues i mentioned bother anyone? can you see a grown woman named gemma? i always just picture the supermodel gemma ward! also, one of my best best friends has a daughter Emma. Would it be weird to use Gemma?
hostess / wonderful persimmon / 25556 posts
@loki: I don't think people will confuse it as Jenna as much as they will ask you how to spell it properly and ask if that is her full name. I don't think the Emma/Gemma thing would be an issue.
pear / 1787 posts
@mediagirl: ok thanks! i do like it and want to seriously consider it for my husband's sake. i just love my top two soooo much haha.
GOLD / wonderful olive / 19030 posts
@loki: I love the name, it does remind me of SOA and for that reason we would never use it. The fact that is sounds like Emma/Jenna doesn't bother me one bit, and I think it's a name that grows into adulthood (it's the mom on SOA)
As for the fact your BFF has a Emma, don't let it detour your! My BFF has a daughter Layla (she's our Goddaughter) and we have Lyla on our list! very similar but we love it.
bananas / 9628 posts
i think of SOA as well. love the name, just not the character association, she's kind of terrible on the show (and by kind of terrible, i mean pure evil 
), but if you don't mind the character association, it's a lovely name. i know 2 gemmas IRL, but they were around prior to SOA
pear / 1787 posts
@LuLu Mom: @mrs. bird: haha if i decide i definitely dont' wanna use Gemma, i'll just encourage DH to start watching it 
@LuLu Mom: i mentioned it to the friend with the Emma and she loved it and said she actually preferred Gemma but her husband preferred Emma so they went with that instead. so she was allll about me using Gemma!
cantaloupe / 6634 posts
What about Gemma Rose? I have never seen SOA, so it just sounds like a beautiful name to me. Gem would be a pretty cute nn.
blogger / wonderful cherry / 21616 posts
@loki: I have never heard of SOA so there's that I actually first heard the name because of the model Gemma ward too!
I absolutely adore this name. It was on my shortlist while I was pregnant. It's so beautiful. Please use it because I will never get to
cantaloupe / 6610 posts
@loki: I love it! Before I had LO, I used to read a lot of chic lit books, and there were often characters named Gemma, usually when the setting was in London or the UK. I always thought it was a cute, refreshing name!
pear / 1787 posts
@simplyfelicity: so funny, that seems to be a popular suggestion among my good friends. Gemma Rose is the name of Michael Owen's daughter and also Kristin Davis' daughter. It is STUNNING. but we're pretty set on using a family name as a middle name... so it would probably be Elizabeth... doesn't flow beautifully but it's important to us to use it. also, the thought of not using Rose as a first name makes me sad! haha
@Mrs. Pen: haha i feel this way about so many names too! i want everyone to use Caroline and Maeve because I'll never get to. I'm curious what else was on your short list because if you love Gemma we probably have similar taste, I would think!
honeydew / 7622 posts
Love it! In is on our longer list of girl name possibilities. I love Gem as a NN.
pomegranate / 3105 posts
One of my favourite names - I know one Gemma and she is the sweetest person I've ever met.
honeydew / 7235 posts
I love the name!!! My dh hates it though :(. I think its a great name!
nectarine / 2974 posts
I love Gemma! DH, not so much, so unfortunately it's out for us. And I used to work with a Gemma and no one had any issues with her name. It's not super common, but I don't think it's "weird" or anything.
pear / 1787 posts
@youboots: ya i think gem is so cute. my husband pretty much exclusively says gemmie. he talks to my belly and says "gemmie". i keep having to be like STOPPPPPPPPPPPP but i think he's trying to convince me it's her name. ha.
@babycanuck: aw that's nice. maybe if we name our daughter gemma she'll be sweet too... more like my DH than like me 
@hellobeeboston: you can have my DH! ha
cantaloupe / 6059 posts
I think it's an absolutely adorable name that also matures well! I love it.
hostess / wonderful watermelon / 39513 posts
@loki: I can definitely picture an adult Gemma!
papaya / 10570 posts
Gemma was a very popular name here back in the 80s so I know a lot of grown up Gemmas!
GOLD / wonderful pomegranate / 28905 posts
SOA has forever ruined this name for me as well. So yes I can see an adult with this name but not a child.
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