I don't think of it as sparkly or even gem-related really. I think of it as implying abundance or fertility, because of the Latin gemma being a bud (metaphorical jewel). In botany there are a number of terms referring to budding that use the root gemma, and I think the Italian verb gemmare is to bud. I guess that's idiosyncratic of me, but I just don't see it in the same 'shinies' category like
Ruby or
Pearl at all.
It's one of my favorite names.
This message was edited 9/25/2009, 2:28 PM