🌸 Zarema: the history of an unusual name

You know, when I first heard this name, it stuck with me immediately. It’s kind of… strong. Not like the others. Well, you know — not Olya, not Tetyana, not Natasha.

But where it came from — that’s a whole story. When I started looking into it, I found so many versions that it made my head spin. And you know what? In my opinion, not all of them are true.

Well, where does it really come from?

Most often they say — Turkic. Like, “red star.” Nice, right? Can you imagine a girl — a red star. Bright, strong, memorable.

But there is another version, a Soviet one. It was such a time — they created new names from anything that came to hand. So Zarema — it’s “ZA REvolyutsiyu MIra” (FOR the REvolution of the WORLD). Well, you know, like those Lenins, Oktyabriny… Enthusiastic parents gave such names to their children.

Honestly? I like the first version more. It’s kind of… more genuine.

And there is also a Persian theory. There “Zar” is radiance, gold, and “emma” is crown. So it becomes “shining crown.” Also beautiful, although it seems to me a bit far-fetched.

And is the Arabic origin true?

Oh, this is the most interesting! Many people get confused, they’ve heard the word “zarima” — it means “obedient,” “humbled.” But that’s a completely different thing! Moreover, it’s masculine.

You see, as I look into it — in the Arabic language, there really is no such name. It’s like saying the name Ivan came from Chinese. It doesn’t make sense.

By the way, on Behind The Name — that’s a serious site about names — they also confirm that there is no Arabic origin.

And what are they like, Zaremas?

Oh, that’s a whole other story. I’ve met a few Zaremas in my life — and they are all different, but… there is something common about them. Something you can’t explain.

They are usually:

Not the type to bend in the wind
They know how to truly enjoy life
They rarely doubt themselves out loud
Sometimes a little… well, they like things their way

But you understand — no one is a solid quality from a textbook. They also have doubts, they also worry. They just don’t show it.

A psychologist once said a wise thing: “Character is a properly organized system of values.” It seems to me that this fits Zaremas very well. They have everything sorted out on their shelves.

What’s the coolest thing about them?

The ability to persuade. Sometimes even to manipulate a little, to be honest. They quickly orient themselves to where the benefit is and find the best path.

And they are… like a rock. They fall — they get up, dust themselves off and move on. They don’t whine, they don’t drag out failures.

And what kind of problems do they have?

Well… they don’t like being controlled. Restrictions are like a red rag to a bull.

And also — when they go for their goal, they sometimes forget about the rules. Well, you know, like in that saying — “the end justifies the means.”

Astrology and other things

I don’t really believe in all that, but it’s interesting what they say:

Color — red (well, of course, “red star”)
Planet — Mercury
Stones — ruby
Totem — snake (wisdom, rebirth)

By the way, about the snake — it’s not about treachery, as many think. The snake in many cultures is a symbol of wisdom and renewal.

Famous Zaremas

You know, there are several interesting women with this name:

Zarema Katusheva — Ukrainian politician
Zarema Novak — photographer from Prague. She knows how to capture the moment — not staged, real. When you look at her work, it seems like you can smell the rain or hear someone in the frame laughing.
Zarema Ali — dancer from London. On stage, she is calm, confident, even when everything around is in motion. And it’s not just about plasticity — it’s about inner balance, about that strength that you can’t see but you can feel.

See? They are all in serious fields — politics, science, culture. Which, in fact, confirms my observations.