Tamar Unisex

Popularity: #875 · Trend: ↘ Falling

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.

TaliaTaliahTamsinTarynTessa

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.

TaraTaniaTammyTamsinTahliaTamarindTamsy

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Tamar was first seen in the United States in 1915.

Tamar has ranked as high as #1593 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.

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 Total Births Boy Girl
2025 73 0 73
2024 77 0 77
2023 78 8 70
2022 71 0 71
2021 71 5 66
2020 65 6 59
2019 67 5 62
2018 70 0 70
2017 74 8 66
2016 96 11 85
2015 91 7 84
2014 110 12 98
2013 124 16 108
2012 105 15 90
2011 100 18 82
2010 88 22 66
2009 86 16 70
2008 117 26 91
2007 115 25 90
2006 102 17 85
2005 109 22 87
2004 109 21 88
2003 138 29 109
2002 124 21 103
2001 123 29 94
2000 142 42 100
1999 133 30 103
1998 121 32 89
1997 117 22 95
1996 111 19 92
1995 115 23 92
1994 103 19 84
1993 90 9 81
1992 113 14 99
1991 101 19 82
1990 104 20 84
1989 120 15 105
1988 125 19 106
1987 112 22 90
1986 107 17 90
1985 141 17 124
1984 134 10 124
1983 145 19 126
1982 138 14 124
1981 137 18 119
1980 115 20 95
1979 148 16 132
1978 135 23 112
1977 149 16 133
1976 124 23 101
1975 110 16 94
1974 116 13 103
1973 100 7 93
1972 76 6 70
1971 85 0 85
1970 87 7 80
1969 69 0 69
1968 72 0 72
1967 57 0 57
1966 77 0 77
1965 78 0 78
1964 47 0 47
1963 50 0 50
1962 54 0 54
1961 51 0 51
1960 51 0 51
1959 35 0 35
1958 45 0 45
1957 28 0 28
1956 27 0 27
1955 22 0 22
1954 22 0 22
1953 14 0 14
1952 20 0 20
1951 19 0 19
1950 17 0 17
1949 17 0 17
1948 15 0 15
1947 10 0 10
1946 7 0 7
1945 10 0 10
1944 11 0 11
1943 8 0 8
1942 8 0 8
1941 5 0 5
1940 5 0 5
1939 8 0 8
1938 8 0 8
1937 5 0 5
1936 5 0 5
1935 5 0 5
1934 5 0 5
1931 5 0 5
1929 5 0 5
1923 5 0 5
1915 5 0 5

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. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
NY 23
43%
NJ 17
31%
CA 7
13%
MD 7
13%