Chema

Etymology and Origin

Chema is a Spanish diminutive of the compound given name José María (combining José and María, the names of Jesus' parents) or, less commonly, of José Manuel. According to Wiktionary, the name originated from "Che" + "María", where "Che" itself is a diminutive of José. The phonetic clipping results in the compact form "Chema", which omits the first syllable of José and blends with María. A regional variant is José Mari (Basque) and Jomar (Philippines).

Cultural Context

Double names like José María and José Manuel are traditional in the Spanish-speaking world, often honoring religious figures from Christianity. Chema is primarily used in Spain as an informal or affectionate shortening, especially among friends and family. While José itself was the most popular male name in Spain in the early 20th century, compound forms remain common, and Chema persists as an intimate variant. The name is masculine and not typically given as a full legal name.

Key Facts

• Meaning: Diminutive of José María and José Manuel
• Origin: Spanish
• Type: Diminutive / nickname
• Usage Regions: Spain, Latin America
• Related Forms: José Mari, Jomar