Tami Girl
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: TAH-mee /ˈtæmi/
Origin: Hebrew; English
Meaning: Hebrew: palm tree; English: diminutive of Tamara
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Tami is derived from the Hebrew name Tamar, which means "date palm" or "palm tree." The name Tamar appears in the Hebrew Bible, notably in the Old Testament, where it is associated with figures such as Tamar, the daughter-in-law of Judah, who is mentioned in the Book of Genesis. The name's journey into English began with the transliteration of Hebrew names into Greek and Latin, particularly during the early Christian era, when biblical texts were translated and disseminated across Europe.
Over time, Tamar evolved into various forms in different languages, including the diminutive Tami, which emerged as a more contemporary variant in the 20th century. Throughout history, the name has been borne by several notable figures, including Tamar of Georgia, a medieval queen who ruled in the 12th and 13th centuries and is celebrated for her leadership and cultural contributions.
The name has also been used in various literary and artistic contexts, reinforcing its presence in cultural narratives. In addition to its biblical roots, the symbolism of the palm tree, often associated with victory and peace, has contributed to the name's enduring significance in various cultures.
The diminutive form Tami has been embraced in various cultures, often as a term of endearment or familiarity. This reflects a broader trend in naming practices where shorter, more affectionate forms of traditional names gain popularity.
The name Tami, while rooted in ancient history, carries with it a sense of warmth and personal connection, making it a cherished choice in many families.
Famous people named Tami
In this section, you will find notable people named Tami. 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 Tami who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Tami 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.
Tami Roman is a television personality and actress best known for The Real World, Basketball Wives, and her role in the film The Fighting Temptations.
Tami Hoag is an author best known for her novels Dark Horse, Kill the Messenger, and Ashes to Ashes.
Fictional characters named Tami
The following list of fictional characters named Tami 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.
Tami Taylor is a fictional character from the TV series Friday Night Lights. She is the supportive wife of the high school football coach and serves as a guidance counselor, playing a crucial role in the lives of the students and her family.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Tami, 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 Tami. 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 Tami was first seen in the United States in 1942.
Tami has ranked as high as #282 nationally, which occurred in 1959, and has been most popular in California, Ohio, Washington, Illinois, and Pennsylvania.
In the past 5 years the name Tami has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Tami 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 Tami was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Tami (2002)
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 Tami.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 7 |
| 2023 | 10 |
| 2022 | 7 |
| 2018 | 6 |
| 2016 | 8 |
| 2015 | 8 |
| 2014 | 7 |
| 2013 | 10 |
| 2012 | 11 |
| 2011 | 10 |
| 2010 | 6 |
| 2009 | 7 |
| 2008 | 9 |
| 2007 | 16 |
| 2006 | 13 |
| 2005 | 13 |
| 2004 | 24 |
| 2003 | 16 |
| 2002 | 21 |
| 2001 | 26 |
| 2000 | 24 |
| 1999 | 29 |
| 1998 | 26 |
| 1997 | 43 |
| 1996 | 48 |
| 1995 | 39 |
| 1994 | 49 |
| 1993 | 52 |
| 1992 | 64 |
| 1991 | 83 |
| 1990 | 88 |
| 1989 | 119 |
| 1988 | 128 |
| 1987 | 174 |
| 1986 | 251 |
| 1985 | 248 |
| 1984 | 296 |
| 1983 | 358 |
| 1982 | 405 |
| 1981 | 455 |
| 1980 | 527 |
| 1979 | 651 |
| 1978 | 619 |
| 1977 | 622 |
| 1976 | 710 |
| 1975 | 832 |
| 1974 | 947 |
| 1973 | 1,001 |
| 1972 | 1,288 |
| 1971 | 1,452 |
| 1970 | 1,556 |
| 1969 | 1,533 |
| 1968 | 1,659 |
| 1967 | 1,488 |
| 1966 | 1,534 |
| 1965 | 1,721 |
| 1964 | 1,733 |
| 1963 | 2,079 |
| 1962 | 2,209 |
| 1961 | 2,227 |
| 1960 | 2,260 |
| 1959 | 2,741 |
| 1958 | 1,829 |
| 1957 | 850 |
| 1956 | 128 |
| 1955 | 105 |
| 1954 | 85 |
| 1953 | 58 |
| 1952 | 52 |
| 1951 | 28 |
| 1950 | 24 |
| 1949 | 30 |
| 1948 | 33 |
| 1947 | 29 |
| 1946 | 24 |
| 1945 | 11 |
| 1944 | 10 |
| 1943 | 8 |
| 1942 | 7 |