Tamala Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: tah-MAH-lah /tæˈmɑːlə/
Origin: English; African
Meaning: English: palm tree; African: unknown
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Tamala is believed to have roots in the African American community, emerging in the 20th century as a modern creation. It is often considered a blend of the names Tamara and the suffix -la, which is common in many feminine names.
Tamara itself has Hebrew origins, derived from the word "tamar," meaning "date palm." This name can be traced back to biblical texts, where Tamar is a significant figure in the Hebrew Bible, appearing in the genealogies of both Judah and King David. The name Tamara made its way into various languages, including Greek and Latin, before being adopted into English, particularly through translations of biblical texts and the influence of Christian traditions during the Middle Ages.
The historical development of Tamala is more recent, with its first recorded uses appearing in the United States during the mid-20th century. It reflects a broader trend of African American naming practices that often incorporate elements of creativity and cultural significance.
Names like Tamala may carry connotations of beauty and strength, resonating with the cultural identity and heritage of those who choose them. The name's phonetic structure also aligns with other popular names of the era, which often feature similar sounds and endings.
Culturally, Tamala may evoke associations with themes of resilience and individuality, common in many names within the African American community. The name's unique formation and sound contribute to its distinctiveness, allowing it to stand out while still connecting to traditional roots.
While diminutive forms or variations may exist, such as Tami or Mala, the name Tamala itself encapsulates a blend of historical significance and contemporary identity.
Famous people named Tamala
In this section, you will find notable people named Tamala. 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 Tamala who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Tamala 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.
Tamala Jones is an actress best known for Booty Call, The Brothers, and Next Friday.
Tamala Montgomery is a singer and songwriter best known for her work with the group The Emotions.
Fictional characters named Tamala
The following list of fictional characters named Tamala 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.
Tamala is a fictional character from the animated film Tamala 2010: A Punk Cat in Space. She is a cat who embarks on a journey through space to find her missing friend and uncover the truth about her world.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Tamala, 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 Tamala. 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 Tamala was first seen in the United States in 1950.
Tamala has ranked as high as #946 nationally, which occurred in 1971, and has been most popular in Ohio, Texas, California, Michigan, and Illinois.
In the past 5 years the name Tamala has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Tamala 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 Tamala was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Tamala (1988)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| AL | 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 Tamala.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2001 | 10 |
| 1999 | 8 |
| 1998 | 9 |
| 1997 | 5 |
| 1995 | 8 |
| 1994 | 10 |
| 1993 | 8 |
| 1992 | 13 |
| 1991 | 19 |
| 1990 | 8 |
| 1989 | 16 |
| 1988 | 20 |
| 1987 | 20 |
| 1986 | 17 |
| 1985 | 22 |
| 1984 | 20 |
| 1983 | 33 |
| 1982 | 59 |
| 1981 | 51 |
| 1980 | 48 |
| 1979 | 50 |
| 1978 | 53 |
| 1977 | 63 |
| 1976 | 89 |
| 1975 | 107 |
| 1974 | 141 |
| 1973 | 106 |
| 1972 | 131 |
| 1971 | 176 |
| 1970 | 124 |
| 1969 | 121 |
| 1968 | 150 |
| 1967 | 145 |
| 1966 | 123 |
| 1965 | 98 |
| 1964 | 117 |
| 1963 | 134 |
| 1962 | 88 |
| 1961 | 109 |
| 1960 | 104 |
| 1959 | 86 |
| 1958 | 71 |
| 1957 | 32 |
| 1956 | 11 |
| 1955 | 6 |
| 1954 | 6 |
| 1953 | 8 |
| 1952 | 10 |
| 1950 | 5 |