Lamar Unisex

Popularity: #807 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: luh-MAR /ləˈmɑːr/

Origin: French; Arabic

Meaning: French: 'the land'; Arabic: 'the one who is exalted'

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Lamar has its roots in the Old French word "lamare," which means "the sea" or "the water." This term likely derived from the Latin "lamaris," which carries similar meanings related to bodies of water. The name entered the English language during the Middle Ages, influenced by the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century, when many Old French words and names were adopted into English vernacular.

As a result, Lamar can be seen as a name that reflects a connection to nature, particularly to water, which has historically held significant symbolic meaning in various cultures. Throughout history, the name Lamar has been associated with various notable figures.

One of the earliest recorded uses of the name can be traced back to the 19th century in the United States, where it was used as a surname before becoming popular as a given name. The name gained prominence through figures such as the American politician Mirabeau B.

Lamar, who served as the second president of the Republic of Texas in the 1840s. His contributions to Texas history and governance helped to solidify the name's association with leadership and strength.

Culturally, Lamar has resonated within African American communities, where it has been embraced as a symbol of heritage and identity. The name has been used in various artistic expressions, including music and literature, which further contribute to its cultural significance.

Additionally, diminutive forms such as "Lami" have emerged in some contexts, showcasing the name's adaptability and personal connection among those who bear it. Overall, Lamar embodies a rich linguistic history and cultural depth, reflecting both natural elements and historical legacy.

Famous people named Lamar

In this section, you will find notable people named Lamar. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Lamar who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Lamar who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Lamar Odom is a former professional basketball player best known for playing with the Los Angeles Lakers, winning two NBA championships, and being named the NBA Sixth Man of the Year.

Lamar Jackson is a professional football player best known for being the quarterback of the Baltimore Ravens and winning the NFL MVP award.

Fictional characters named Lamar

The following list of fictional characters named Lamar is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Lamar is a fictional character from the video game series Grand Theft Auto. He is a close friend of the protagonist Franklin Clinton and provides comic relief throughout the story.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Lamar, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Lamar. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Lamar was first seen in the United States in 1882.

Lamar has ranked as high as #604 nationally, which occurred in 1989, and has been most popular in Georgia, Pennsylvania, California, Florida, and New York.

In the past 5 years the name Lamar has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Lamar is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Lamar was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Top States for Lamar (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.

State Births Share
TX 13
22%
CA 9
16%
FL 9
16%
PA 8
14%
MI 7
12%
NY 7
12%
IL 5
9%

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Lamar.

YearBirths
2024117
2023135
2022144
2021148
2020182
2019194
2018200
2017234
2016230
2015277
2014268
2013327
2012288
2011314
2010333
2009293
2008308
2007339
2006340
2005303
2004263
2003238
2002242
2001288
2000286
1999256
1998251
1997323
1996296
1995306
1994372
1993405
1992496
1991550
1990689
1989737
1988668
1987613
1986617
1985535
1984548
1983600
1982549
1981586
1980611
1979573
1978483
1977516
1976362
1975322
1974323
1973346
1972424
1971388
1970400
1969314
1968302
1967262
1966220
1965240
1964257
1963224
1962261
1961259
1960267
1959272
1958261
1957279
1956272
1955282
1954291
1953273
1952275
1951283
1950276
1949267
1948284
1947277
1946216
1945198
1944223
1943241
1942225
1941218
1940212
1939210
1938211
1937220
1936198
1935216
1934221
1933244
1932229
1931216
1930228
1929216
1928233
1927224
1926221
1925237
1924234
1923209
1922189
1921179
1920183
1919163
1918161
1917163
1916167
1915125
191499
191378
191252
191129
191034
190920
190819
190731
190617
190515
190410
19036
190215
190114
190016
189912
189810
189715
18967
189510
189410
189310
189210
18915
18905
18887
18877
188514
18825