Lamar Unisex
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 | |
| CA | 9 | |
| FL | 9 | |
| PA | 8 | |
| MI | 7 | |
| NY | 7 | |
| IL | 5 |
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.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 117 |
| 2023 | 135 |
| 2022 | 144 |
| 2021 | 148 |
| 2020 | 182 |
| 2019 | 194 |
| 2018 | 200 |
| 2017 | 234 |
| 2016 | 230 |
| 2015 | 277 |
| 2014 | 268 |
| 2013 | 327 |
| 2012 | 288 |
| 2011 | 314 |
| 2010 | 333 |
| 2009 | 293 |
| 2008 | 308 |
| 2007 | 339 |
| 2006 | 340 |
| 2005 | 303 |
| 2004 | 263 |
| 2003 | 238 |
| 2002 | 242 |
| 2001 | 288 |
| 2000 | 286 |
| 1999 | 256 |
| 1998 | 251 |
| 1997 | 323 |
| 1996 | 296 |
| 1995 | 306 |
| 1994 | 372 |
| 1993 | 405 |
| 1992 | 496 |
| 1991 | 550 |
| 1990 | 689 |
| 1989 | 737 |
| 1988 | 668 |
| 1987 | 613 |
| 1986 | 617 |
| 1985 | 535 |
| 1984 | 548 |
| 1983 | 600 |
| 1982 | 549 |
| 1981 | 586 |
| 1980 | 611 |
| 1979 | 573 |
| 1978 | 483 |
| 1977 | 516 |
| 1976 | 362 |
| 1975 | 322 |
| 1974 | 323 |
| 1973 | 346 |
| 1972 | 424 |
| 1971 | 388 |
| 1970 | 400 |
| 1969 | 314 |
| 1968 | 302 |
| 1967 | 262 |
| 1966 | 220 |
| 1965 | 240 |
| 1964 | 257 |
| 1963 | 224 |
| 1962 | 261 |
| 1961 | 259 |
| 1960 | 267 |
| 1959 | 272 |
| 1958 | 261 |
| 1957 | 279 |
| 1956 | 272 |
| 1955 | 282 |
| 1954 | 291 |
| 1953 | 273 |
| 1952 | 275 |
| 1951 | 283 |
| 1950 | 276 |
| 1949 | 267 |
| 1948 | 284 |
| 1947 | 277 |
| 1946 | 216 |
| 1945 | 198 |
| 1944 | 223 |
| 1943 | 241 |
| 1942 | 225 |
| 1941 | 218 |
| 1940 | 212 |
| 1939 | 210 |
| 1938 | 211 |
| 1937 | 220 |
| 1936 | 198 |
| 1935 | 216 |
| 1934 | 221 |
| 1933 | 244 |
| 1932 | 229 |
| 1931 | 216 |
| 1930 | 228 |
| 1929 | 216 |
| 1928 | 233 |
| 1927 | 224 |
| 1926 | 221 |
| 1925 | 237 |
| 1924 | 234 |
| 1923 | 209 |
| 1922 | 189 |
| 1921 | 179 |
| 1920 | 183 |
| 1919 | 163 |
| 1918 | 161 |
| 1917 | 163 |
| 1916 | 167 |
| 1915 | 125 |
| 1914 | 99 |
| 1913 | 78 |
| 1912 | 52 |
| 1911 | 29 |
| 1910 | 34 |
| 1909 | 20 |
| 1908 | 19 |
| 1907 | 31 |
| 1906 | 17 |
| 1905 | 15 |
| 1904 | 10 |
| 1903 | 6 |
| 1902 | 15 |
| 1901 | 14 |
| 1900 | 16 |
| 1899 | 12 |
| 1898 | 10 |
| 1897 | 15 |
| 1896 | 7 |
| 1895 | 10 |
| 1894 | 10 |
| 1893 | 10 |
| 1892 | 10 |
| 1891 | 5 |
| 1890 | 5 |
| 1888 | 7 |
| 1887 | 7 |
| 1885 | 14 |
| 1882 | 5 |