Tamar Unisex
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: TAM-ar //ˈtæm.ɑːr//
Origin: Hebrew; Aramaic
Meaning: Hebrew: date palm; Aramaic: palm tree
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Tamar has its roots in the Hebrew language, deriving from the word "תָּמָר" (tamar), which translates to "date palm." This etymology reflects the significance of the date palm in ancient cultures, symbolizing beauty, grace, and fertility. The name entered the English language through the biblical tradition, primarily via the Old Testament, where it appears in various forms.
The Hebrew name was transliterated into Greek as "Tamar" and subsequently adopted into Latin, before making its way into Old French and finally into Middle English, where it retained its original form. Historically, the name Tamar is associated with notable biblical figures.
One of the most prominent is Tamar, the daughter-in-law of Judah, who is mentioned in the Book of Genesis, dating back to the 2nd millennium BCE. Her story, which involves themes of justice and survival, is significant in Jewish tradition and has been referenced in various religious texts and interpretations throughout the centuries.
Additionally, another Tamar, the daughter of King David, is featured in the biblical narrative, highlighting the name's royal connections and its presence in significant historical contexts. Culturally, the name Tamar has resonated through various traditions, often symbolizing resilience and strength.
In Jewish tradition, the date palm is a symbol of peace and prosperity, which may contribute to the name's enduring appeal. The name has also been used in various literary and artistic works, reinforcing its cultural significance.
Related forms, such as Tamara, have emerged in different cultures, but the original Hebrew form remains a powerful symbol of heritage and identity.
Famous people named Tamar
In this section, you will find notable people named Tamar. 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 Tamar who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Tamar 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.
Tamar Braxton is a singer and television personality best known for Love and War, Braxton Family Values, and Dancing with the Stars.
Tamar Gendler is a philosopher best known for her work in epistemology, philosophy of mind, and cognitive science.
Tamar Halpern is a filmmaker best known for her work on The Last Resort and The Girl Who Knew Too Much.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Tamar, 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 Tamar. 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 Tamar was first seen in the United States in 1915.
Tamar has ranked as high as #967 nationally, which occurred in 1977, and has been most popular in New York, California, New Jersey, Florida, and Illinois.
In the past 5 years the name Tamar has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Tamar 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 Tamar was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Tamar (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 |
|---|---|---|
| NY | 23 | |
| NJ | 17 | |
| MD | 7 | |
| CA | 7 |
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 Tamar.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 77 |
| 2023 | 70 |
| 2022 | 71 |
| 2021 | 66 |
| 2020 | 59 |
| 2019 | 62 |
| 2018 | 70 |
| 2017 | 66 |
| 2016 | 85 |
| 2015 | 84 |
| 2014 | 98 |
| 2013 | 108 |
| 2012 | 90 |
| 2011 | 82 |
| 2010 | 66 |
| 2009 | 70 |
| 2008 | 91 |
| 2007 | 90 |
| 2006 | 84 |
| 2005 | 87 |
| 2004 | 88 |
| 2003 | 109 |
| 2002 | 103 |
| 2001 | 94 |
| 2000 | 100 |
| 1999 | 103 |
| 1998 | 89 |
| 1997 | 95 |
| 1996 | 92 |
| 1995 | 92 |
| 1994 | 84 |
| 1993 | 81 |
| 1992 | 99 |
| 1991 | 82 |
| 1990 | 84 |
| 1989 | 105 |
| 1988 | 106 |
| 1987 | 90 |
| 1986 | 90 |
| 1985 | 124 |
| 1984 | 123 |
| 1983 | 126 |
| 1982 | 124 |
| 1981 | 119 |
| 1980 | 95 |
| 1979 | 132 |
| 1978 | 112 |
| 1977 | 133 |
| 1976 | 101 |
| 1975 | 94 |
| 1974 | 103 |
| 1973 | 93 |
| 1972 | 70 |
| 1971 | 85 |
| 1970 | 80 |
| 1969 | 69 |
| 1968 | 72 |
| 1967 | 57 |
| 1966 | 77 |
| 1965 | 78 |
| 1964 | 47 |
| 1963 | 50 |
| 1962 | 54 |
| 1961 | 51 |
| 1960 | 51 |
| 1959 | 35 |
| 1958 | 45 |
| 1957 | 28 |
| 1956 | 27 |
| 1955 | 22 |
| 1954 | 22 |
| 1953 | 14 |
| 1952 | 20 |
| 1951 | 19 |
| 1950 | 17 |
| 1949 | 17 |
| 1948 | 15 |
| 1947 | 10 |
| 1946 | 7 |
| 1945 | 10 |
| 1944 | 11 |
| 1943 | 8 |
| 1942 | 8 |
| 1941 | 5 |
| 1940 | 5 |
| 1939 | 8 |
| 1938 | 8 |
| 1937 | 5 |
| 1936 | 5 |
| 1935 | 5 |
| 1934 | 5 |
| 1931 | 5 |
| 1929 | 5 |
| 1923 | 5 |
| 1915 | 5 |