Tama Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: TAH-mah /ˈtɑː.mə/
Origin: Japanese; Hebrew
Meaning: Japanese: 'ball' or 'round'; Hebrew: 'twin'
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Tama has its roots in the Japanese language, where it is commonly associated with the meaning "ball" or "jewel." The etymology can be traced back to the Old Japanese word "tama," which signifies something precious or valuable. This term has been used in various contexts within Japanese culture, often symbolizing beauty and worth.
The name has also been linked to the concept of a spirit or soul, as in the term "tamashii," which means spirit or soul in Japanese, further enriching its cultural significance. Historically, the name Tama has been associated with various figures and legends within Japanese folklore.
One notable example is the tale of "Tama-chan," a cat that is said to bring good fortune, which reflects the cultural importance of animals in Japanese mythology. Additionally, the name appears in various literary works and traditional stories, reinforcing its presence in the cultural narrative of Japan.
The use of Tama in historical texts can be traced back to the Heian period (794-1185), where it was often used in poetry and prose, highlighting its enduring appeal. Culturally, the name Tama resonates with themes of protection and prosperity.
In Japanese tradition, names often carry significant weight, and Tama is no exception, being associated with auspiciousness and positive attributes. The name has also inspired various diminutive forms, such as "Tamako," which can denote affection and familiarity.
The symbolic associations of Tama with preciousness and beauty have allowed it to maintain a place in Japanese naming conventions, reflecting the values and beliefs of the society throughout history.
Famous people named Tama
In this section, you will find notable people named Tama. 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 Tama who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Tama 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.
Tama Janowitz is an author best known for Slaves of New York, A Certain Age, and The Male Cross-Dresser Support Group.
Tama Kieves is an author and speaker best known for This Time I Dance!, Inspired & Unstoppable, and A Year Without Fear.
Fictional characters named Tama
The following list of fictional characters named Tama 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.
Tama is a fictional character from the manga and anime series Gintama. She is a robot cat who serves as a maid and has a significant role in various comedic and heartfelt moments throughout the story.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Tama, 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 Tama. 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 Tama was first seen in the United States in 1919.
Tama has ranked as high as #1036 nationally, which occurred in 1959, and has been most popular in Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Ohio, California, and Texas.
In the past 5 years the name Tama has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Tama 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 Tama was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Tama (1968)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 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 Tama.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 5 |
| 2002 | 5 |
| 2001 | 6 |
| 1995 | 5 |
| 1994 | 5 |
| 1992 | 7 |
| 1991 | 5 |
| 1990 | 11 |
| 1989 | 9 |
| 1988 | 5 |
| 1987 | 8 |
| 1986 | 7 |
| 1985 | 13 |
| 1984 | 10 |
| 1983 | 9 |
| 1982 | 14 |
| 1981 | 9 |
| 1980 | 12 |
| 1979 | 13 |
| 1978 | 11 |
| 1977 | 16 |
| 1976 | 21 |
| 1975 | 14 |
| 1974 | 23 |
| 1973 | 20 |
| 1972 | 27 |
| 1971 | 29 |
| 1970 | 28 |
| 1969 | 31 |
| 1968 | 40 |
| 1967 | 40 |
| 1966 | 43 |
| 1965 | 51 |
| 1964 | 68 |
| 1963 | 67 |
| 1962 | 66 |
| 1961 | 70 |
| 1960 | 64 |
| 1959 | 97 |
| 1958 | 91 |
| 1957 | 51 |
| 1956 | 39 |
| 1955 | 23 |
| 1954 | 32 |
| 1953 | 26 |
| 1952 | 26 |
| 1951 | 12 |
| 1950 | 11 |
| 1949 | 23 |
| 1948 | 13 |
| 1947 | 12 |
| 1946 | 18 |
| 1945 | 10 |
| 1944 | 7 |
| 1943 | 9 |
| 1942 | 5 |
| 1938 | 6 |
| 1937 | 6 |
| 1933 | 5 |
| 1929 | 5 |
| 1925 | 7 |
| 1923 | 7 |
| 1919 | 5 |