Fun Facts About the Name Kemi
- 383 babies named Kemi: U.S. records list 383 babies given the name Kemi from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Kemi Mean?
Kemi is a Yoruba name meaning "pamper me" or "cherish me." It comes from the Yoruba verb kẹ́, which means to pamper, cherish, or care for, and mi, "me." In Yoruba it is written Kẹ́mi, with an underdot under the e and an acute accent marking tone; English spellings usually drop these marks.
Kemi is often a shortened form of longer Yoruba names that contain the same phrase, such as Adékẹ́mi, from adé ("crown"), and Olúkẹ́mi, from Olú ("God" or a high-ranking chief). When the name stands alone, it keeps the core meaning "pamper me / cherish me," without the added sense of the first element. Its resemblance to unrelated names or to the Finnish place name Kemi does not indicate a shared origin.
Kemi Name History & Origins
Kemi is a Yoruba name from southwestern Nigeria and neighboring areas of Benin and Togo where Yoruba is spoken. In Yoruba naming, a longer formal name is often shortened in daily use. Kemi fits this pattern: it can stand for Adékẹ́mi or Olúkẹ́mi, where the first element is dropped and the kẹ́ mi phrase remains. It can also be given directly as a standalone name, without a longer form behind it.
Yoruba people of different religions use the name, since kẹ́ and mi are ordinary words rather than terms tied to a particular faith. Yoruba names traveled with enslaved and free Yoruba people to the Americas and later with modern migrants, and Kemi is used in Nigeria and in Yoruba communities abroad. The English spelling Kemi usually omits the Yoruba diacritics. The Finnish city Kemi is unrelated.
How Popular is the Name Kemi?
Kemi has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2022. Its best rank was #4,354 in 1978.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #12,549 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2024 | #9,871 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2023 | #9,305 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 2022 | #6,849 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 2021 | #14,376 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 2020 | #11,618 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 2019 | #7,941 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2018 | #16,911 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2016 | #13,623 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2015 | #10,504 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2014 | #17,896 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2011 | #15,815 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2010 | #14,247 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2007 | #11,245 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2006 | #12,995 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2005 | #13,753 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2004 | #15,120 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2003 | #10,867 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2001 | #12,748 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2000 | #10,326 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1998 | #8,280 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1997 | #10,288 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1996 | #11,169 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1995 | #11,115 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1994 | #12,583 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1993 | #10,056 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1992 | #6,850 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1991 | #8,287 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1988 | #8,782 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1987 | #9,266 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1986 | #6,838 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1984 | #7,731 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1983 | #8,473 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1982 | #11,302 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1981 | #9,673 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1980 | #11,168 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1979 | #10,962 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1978 | #4,354 | 16 | 0.0010% |
| 1977 | #5,352 | 12 | 0.0008% |
| 1976 | #9,989 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1975 | #7,523 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1973 | #7,011 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1972 | #7,702 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1971 | #6,288 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1970 | #8,622 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1965 | #6,137 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1962 | #6,196 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1961 | #7,037 | 5 | 0.0002% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Kemi Shapes Your Personality and Life?
EXTREMES in fortune, health and spirituality. You are very versatile, idealistic and intuitive. You either enjoy great success or suffer abject misery. The solution is service to others. Use your leadership abilities for humanity and not for self-glorification. You have an eventful, exciting life. You are versatile and have the ability to learn easily.
You are always looking for an opportunity to achieve financial and emotional security. You are basically peacemaker. You understand the law of harmony and desire to balance your life with those around you. You may feel incomplete without someone to share your love, ideals, wealth or work. You can be very sensitive and could appear a bit shy and perceptive. You have developed intuition, patience and the ability to nurture others. You can achieve the state of happiness if you are willing to accept your needs in a complimentary relationship and go to create them.
✦ Kemi's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Kemi's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.