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

[mosesbasketcase]

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?

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

gah, Jem

Jemima

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.

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

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.

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

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).

Agree with Nooka but I don't think ambiguous matters anyway (and Jem is way better than Harry or Sam - IMVHO). Mind you, I have a boy called Sky (Skyler).

Nothing low brow about Anne of Green Gables!

I like "Jem" but not Jeremy too

James - but it does sound like a girl's name nowadays.

No help whatsoever, but I have a Gemma who has been called Gem all her life. Even the teachers call her Gem to her face, Gemma is for parents' evening!

Jeremy for a boy. Never heard of it as a shortening for James.

Jeremy

I'd assume Jemima or Gemma.

My brother, a Jeremy, has never been called Jem (always shortened to Jez, Jezza). Fwiw he was bullied relentlessly at school because of his name.

The spelling puts me in mind of Jemima, but the pronunciation reminds me of Gemma.

By which I meant to say, I love it as a boy's nn but I don't think people would recognize it as such because it's so popular for girls.

just wanted to thank fannybanjo for the Jem link .

Jem for a boy is fine (much better than Harry or Sam- very boring IMVHO!)- although would probably get called Jim a lot if people misheard.

very 80s and would think short for gemma or jemima

cute though

oops, for a boy??

sorry girls name for me.

Lyra - the Cem I know is aged 5 and SE London

I'd think it was short for James but then that was what Anne of Green Gables son was known as/called

aha! I see there are other Avonlee lovers amongst us

I know a Jem, so Jeremy is my answer

Know it as the Turkish name Cem. Love it and im having it as a middle name for my ds