Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

What do you think of Jem and would you think it was short for...

58 replies

mosesbasketcase · 10/11/2009 18:13

James or Jeremy? I really like it for James (which it was orig short for) but hate the name Jeremy.

Other contenders are Harry or Sam. Votes?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
nooka · 11/11/2009 04:50

I'd expect Jem to be a boy, and then ask him/his parents what his full name was. Could work for James, Jeremy, Jerome, or probably other names beginning with J. I don't think that it matters really, it's up to you.

I think that Harry and Sam are a little run of the mill (and I'd choose Henry/Samuel for the full name in any case).

Ozziegirly · 11/11/2009 02:49

I would think of Jem for James because of Anne of Green Gables .

MrsBadger · 10/11/2009 22:02

I only know one and it was his initials - James Edward Morgan Surname - so JEM Surname.

Knew sveral Turkish Cems over the years in London.

LyraSilvertongue · 10/11/2009 21:56

Jkklpu, I also know a half-Turkish boy named Cem. Same one perhaps (NE London)?

eastendmummy · 10/11/2009 21:54

I used to go out with a Jem who's real name was Jonathan - apparantly his parents couldn't agree so it was a compromise. He was always Jem though and it's a great name and I definitely didn't think it sounded feminine at the time.

Lapsedrunner · 10/11/2009 21:53

Jemima

deepdarkwood · 10/11/2009 21:52

gah, Jem

deepdarkwood · 10/11/2009 21:51

Love Jam - I too would think To Kill a Mocking Bird. Would assume it was short for Jeremy (which I agree, is not great) - although in TKAM think it's just Jem (but then his sister is called Scout )

Loving the Jerome suggestion - great name

strig · 10/11/2009 21:47

I would think Jeremy as I love Jem in to kill a mocking bird - DH said no to that for our DS though! If you like Jem and want it to be short for James go for it! It's a bit different to Harry or Sam but I like both of those as well.

jkklpu · 10/11/2009 21:33

I know a Jeremiah/Jem and a half-Turkish boy called Cem (pro. Jem)

Brightfield · 10/11/2009 21:04

A friend has just named their baby boy Jem. Jem is his full name.

I can't get used to it, as it feels so feminine to me.

Original poster
mosesbasketcase · 10/11/2009 20:46

Thanks everyone, interesting and useful responses. The Jemma, Jemima, Jeremy connotations put me off.

I know a few Sams round here but no Harrys and I asked the local nursery - they have none in class and one on waiting list but two Sams and four on waiting list so I'm thinking maybe people round here aren't choosing Harry cos it's no. 4 countrywide and that puts them off... it's the same with Jacks. It's number one in charts but I only actually know one.

With Jem I guess we were trying to find something with the same friendly, solid feel but more unusual but maybe the reason it ISN'T popular is because of the slightly ambiguous connotations.

Having said that they'll probably be a new male Doctor Who assistant next year called Jem and suddenly it will be in top ten!

OP posts:
Adair · 10/11/2009 20:38

My immediate thought is Jem the doll (must get one for dd, far better role model - punk girl group, yeah!!)

And then Jem, boy, Kill a Mockingbird bla bla. Guess that shows how uncultured I am.

James/Jem works for me. Tis also a Turkish boy's name Cem (pron. Jem). I love it!

randomimposter · 10/11/2009 20:38

oooo, forgot to say Jerome - which I think is a great name. MUCH nicer than Jeremy. That would work - and maybe more accessible/cool than Jeremiah...?

bellissima · 10/11/2009 20:34

Jeremy. Possibly James. Outsider chance of Jerome (I have a nephew of that name who sometimes gets Jem more usually 'Jer').

Interesting isn't it? - I would only ever think it was a boy and yet plenty of people immediately assume it's a girl.

randomimposter · 10/11/2009 20:13

really like Jem... most people would think it was nn for a girl - Jemima, or Jemma.

But we know a little Jem who is a boy - just called Jem, not short for anything else.

Agree on Jeremy... but LIKE Jeremiah. OR make it James, and call him Jem.

Harry and Sam are both LOVELY names, but sadly very widely used. If you want to be a bit different, GO JEM!!!!

fannybanjo · 10/11/2009 19:11

Jem bit of nostalgia for ya!

SolidGoldBangers · 10/11/2009 19:03

BTW young people, the girl-band-cartoon-dolly was called Jem not Gem.
ANd one of my best (male) mates is a Jem (short for Jeremy) and oh the fun I used to have pursuing him round the house bellowing 'Jee-ee-eem, truly outrageous, truly truly truly outrageous!'

He never enjoyed that quite as much as i did for some reason.

Acanthus · 10/11/2009 18:58

I'd assume Jeremy

doingthelambethwalk · 10/11/2009 18:56

Dickens uses it as short for James in Hard Times and in The Old Curiosity Shop. Like it.

MamaLazarou · 10/11/2009 18:49

Jemima

(In our house we used to sing 'Gem is my name and I'm on the game' to the Gem theme tune )

boodleboot · 10/11/2009 18:32

'Gem is my name....noone else is the same...GEM IS MY NAAAAMMMMMEEE GEM....'

ah. the good old days

i always thought it was short for Jeremiah

fannybanjo · 10/11/2009 18:28

"Gem is truly outrageous, truly truly outrageous yeah yeah"PurlyQueen you have brought back memories!

fannybanjo · 10/11/2009 18:27

Jemima or Jemma. Is I was told a baby's name was Jem my initial thoughts would be it was a girl.

PurlyQueen · 10/11/2009 18:26

Jem reminds me of that 1980s doll...

"Gem is my name. No one else is the same. Gem is my name...GEM!!"