Kemala — Meaning, Origin, Pronunciation & Popularity

The meaning

A name that means "jewel (malay-indonesian foundational regal feminine)".

Kemala is from the Malay-Indonesian kemala — from the Sanskrit kamala (lotus, jewel). A modern American baby name in the broader Malay-Indonesian heritage aesthetic. Kemala is one of the foundational Malay-Indonesian feminine names — central to traditional Malay royal naming and Nusantara cultural heritage. In Malay folklore, kemala (jewel) refers to the foundational mystical bezoar stones believed to be carried by serpents — central to Malay-Indonesian magical-realist storytelling tradition. Notable bearer: Datin Paduka Seri Kemala Khalida — Malaysian royal; Kemala — Malay-Indonesian poet (1941-2024, real name Ahmad Kamal Abdullah) — foundational figure of modern Malaysian literature, National Laureate of Malaysia 2011. Foundational Malay royal-aesthetic feminine name across the Nusantara cultural sphere.

Featured throughout Malay-Indonesian heritage.

Jewel (Malay-Sanskrit). Foundational Malay-Indonesian regal feminine + Nusantara cultural heritage + mystical bezoar stones folklore + Kemala foundational Malaysian poet National Laureate 2011.

In its original form

The name in its native script.

Kemala

Transliteration: Kemala
Pronunciation: / kɛˈmɑː.lə /
Root: —
Grammatical form: —

Popularity

Where Kemala stands.

Current rank · 2025

№ 0 in the U.S.

All-time peak

№ 0 in 0

Babies named Kemala · last year

88 in the U.S.

First entered SSA top-1000

0

Rank, 1995–2025 Lower = more popular

Namesakes

Kemalas before her.

Real people

—

In fiction

Kemala

Malay jewel.

Numerology

The number behind Kemala.

8

The Authority

Kemala reduces to eight.

Parents on Kemala

Why families chose this name.

"Malay jewel. Six letters. Kemala."

Aisyah · Mother of one · Kuala Lumpur

Kemala Kemala — Meaning, Origin & Baby Name Popularity