Tama is a Japanese given name that has been used traditionally for both males and females. The name has several different meanings depending on the kanji characters used to write it.
One common meaning of Tama is "jewel" or "gem". This interpretation uses the kanji character 珠, which means pearl or bead. In Japanese culture, jewels are often seen as symbols of beauty, rarity, and perfection. Therefore, giving a child the name Tama could indicate that they were highly valued and cherished.
Another possible meaning for Tama is "ball" or "sphere". This interpretation uses the kanji character 玉, which has several different meanings including ball, jewel, and gemstone. In Japanese art and literature, balls and spheres often represent harmony, balance, and unity. Thus, naming a child Tama might express hopes for their ability to bring balance and harmony into their life.
The name Tama also appears in Japanese mythology as the name of the moon goddess. According to legend, Tama was the daughter of the sun god Susanoo and his wife Yagami. She is said to have been a kind and compassionate deity who cared for the people of Japan by providing light at night.
Throughout history, the name Tama has been used by many notable individuals in Japanese culture. For example, Tama Karu was a prominent poet during the Heian period, while Tama Jōchi was an emperor who reigned from 1053 to 1077. Today, Tama continues to be a popular name choice for both boys and girls in Japan.
Overall, the name Tama carries with it a rich history and cultural significance. Whether interpreted as a jewel, ball, or moon goddess, this unique and beautiful name embodies positive attributes such as rarity, harmony, and compassion.
The name Tama has seen a varied history of usage in the United States, with periods of popularity followed by declines in use.
In the early years of record-keeping for birth data, there were only a handful of births each year with the name Tama. Between 1919 and 1938, there were fewer than ten births per year with this name, with some years having as few as five births each.
However, starting in the mid-1940s, the number of babies named Tama began to increase steadily. In 1946, there were 18 births, and by 1958, this number had reached an all-time high of 97 births.
This trend continued into the early 1960s, with over 60 births each year between 1960 and 1964. However, after 1964, there was a decline in the popularity of the name Tama, with fewer than 50 births per year from that point forward.
By the late 1970s and early 1980s, the number of babies named Tama had dropped significantly, with single-digit numbers each year. This trend has continued into the present day, with fewer than ten births per year since 2001.
Overall, there have been a total of 1433 births with the name Tama in the United States since records began being kept. Despite fluctuations in popularity over time, this name has remained relatively uncommon compared to other names.