Tamara is a feminine given name of Slavic origin, specifically from the Russian language. It is derived from the Slavic element "tamara," which means "palm tree." The name Tamara has a rich history and cultural significance.
The earliest known use of the name Tamara can be traced back to the 10th century in Russia. Tamara Irdanova, a Princess of the Khazars, was one of the first notable individuals with this name. She married a Georgian prince and became a significant figure in the history of Georgia. Since then, the name Tamara has been popular among Slavic peoples.
In Russian literature, Tamara is also featured prominently as the heroine in the poem "Tamara" by Mikhail Lermontov. The poem tells the story of a young woman named Tamara who falls in love with a man who ultimately betrays her, leading to her tragic death. This literary work has contributed to the popularity and familiarity of the name Tamara among Russian speakers.
The name Tamara has also been adopted by other cultures throughout history. In Spain, for instance, it is used as a female given name, often spelled "Tamara" or "Tamará." In some cases, it may be associated with the Moorish dynasty Almoravid, which included a prominent figure named Tamar, although this connection is not definitively proven.
In modern times, Tamara remains a popular choice for parents in Russia and other Slavic countries. It has also gained international recognition due to its unique sound and cultural significance. Today, people bearing the name Tamara can be found all over the world, testament to the enduring appeal of this historic and meaningful name.
The name Tamara has seen a significant rise and fall in popularity over the past century in the United States. In the early years from 1917 to 1932, there were fewer than 20 births per year with this name. However, starting from 1938, there was a steady increase in the number of babies named Tamara, reaching a peak in 1957 with 1,846 births.
This period marked the height of popularity for the name Tamara, as it remained consistently high throughout the late 1950s and early 1960s, with over 3,000 births per year. However, after 1967, the number of babies named Tamara began to decline gradually.
By the late 1970s and early 1980s, there were around 2,000 to 3,000 births per year with this name. This trend continued until the mid-1990s when the popularity of the name Tamara began to decrease more significantly.
Since then, the number of babies named Tamara has been declining steadily, reaching a low of 104 births in 2021 and 109 births in 2022. Despite this decline in recent years, Tamara remains an enduring and beloved name among American parents, with a total of 131,052 babies named Tamara born in the United States since records began.
This data demonstrates the cyclical nature of baby naming trends over time, as well as the enduring appeal of the name Tamara across multiple generations.