Charlotte Girl
SHAHR-luht
“free man” · French
#2
Tamara
GirlHebrew, Russian· “date palm”
- Meaning
- date palm
- Origin
- Hebrew, Russian
- Pronunciation
- tuh-MAHR-uh
- Syllables
- 3
- US rank 2025
- #1,816
- US babies 2025
- 111
- Best rank
- #64 (1974)
- Peak year
- 1970
Meaning and origin of Tamara
Tamara is a Hebrew and Russian name that means “date palm”.
Tamara comes from the Hebrew Tamar, meaning "date palm," a tree valued for its sweet fruit and graceful form. In the Bible, Tamar is the name of several women, including a daughter of King David. The name was borne by Queen Tamar of Georgia, who ruled during the medieval kingdom's golden age, and Tamara became especially common in Russia and Eastern Europe. It has an elegant, three-syllable sound. Tammy and Tami are traditional nicknames.
Popularity over time
Tamara first appears in US Social Security records in 1917. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 71 different years, starting in 1939. Its best national rank was #64 in 1974, and the most babies received it in 1970, when 4,721 were named Tamara. In 2025, 111 babies were named Tamara, and it ranked #1,816 nationally. That is 39% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #407 in 1950, #108 in 1980, #417 in 2000, #1,081 in 2010, and #1,816 in 2025. Of the 131,286 US girls named Tamara since records began, 30% were born in the 1960s, its biggest decade. The 1970s come next, with 37,076 babies. Since 2010, 2,389 more have been named Tamara.
Other girls' names that peaked around the same time include Deanna, Melinda, Jodi, Traci, and Yolanda.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Tamara ranked highest in New Jersey, Florida, and Georgia.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | #932 | 8 |
| Florida | #1106 | 14 |
| Georgia | #1514 | 6 |
| California | #1567 | 15 |
| Pennsylvania | #1606 | 5 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for girls.
Tamara is usually pronounced tuh-MAHR-uh, with three syllables. It has six letters, starts with T and ends in “-ra”.
Middle names for Tamara
A few middle names that flow with Tamara: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Tamara
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Lists that include Tamara
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Tamara mean?
Tamara is a Hebrew and Russian name that means “date palm”.
What is the origin of the name Tamara?
Tamara has Hebrew, Russian, and Georgian roots. Tamara comes from the Hebrew Tamar, meaning "date palm," a tree valued for its sweet fruit and graceful form.
Is Tamara a popular name?
Not especially. Tamara ranked #1,816 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Tamara a boy or girl name?
Tamara is mainly a girl's name. In the US it is used almost only for girls.
How do you pronounce Tamara?
Tamara is usually pronounced tuh-MAHR-uh. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings