Gemma

Gem; precious stone.

Gemma is an Italian feminine name meaning “gem” or “precious stone”. Its jewel imagery gives it a quiet elegance: the name is short enough to feel unadorned even with such a rich meaning. The rounded double m and open ending can make it feel warm rather than formal. Italian Gemma is pronounced /ˈdʒɛm.ma/, with two syllables, stress on the first and a noticeably held m. In British English, /ˈdʒɛm.ə/ has a shorter m and a softer final vowel. Both begin with the sound at the start of “gem”. For someone using the name across these two languages, the difference lies mainly in that middle consonant and ending, rather than a change of spelling.

Etymology: An Italian name from gemma, “gem” or “precious stone”, inherited from Latin gemma. The Italian word also has a botanical sense, “bud”; the established explanation of the personal name centers on the jewel meaning.