Tamaris is a unique and captivating name of Hebrew origin. Its meaning is deeply rooted in the biblical story of King David's daughter, Tamar, who was also known as Tamar the Canaanite. The name Tamaris is thought to be a variant or extended form of Tamar, possibly derived from the Hebrew word "tamar" which means "date palm."
In the Old Testament, Tamar played a significant role in the genealogy of King David and ultimately in Jesus Christ's lineage. She was originally married to Er, the eldest son of Judah, but Er was displeasing to God and died before having children with Tamar. According to Jewish law at that time, Tamar had the right to marry Er's younger brother, Onan, to preserve Er's name. However, Onan refused to fulfill this duty, and he too passed away.
In order to ensure the continuation of her husband's line, Tamar dressed up as a prostitute and seduced Judah, her father-in-law, while he was on his way back from a sheep shearing festival. She became pregnant with twins, Perez and Zerah, who later became important figures in their own right.
The name Tamaris carries with it the strength and determination of its biblical namesake, who went to great lengths to protect her family's legacy despite facing numerous challenges. It is a powerful and distinctive choice for parents looking for an unusual yet meaningful name for their child.
Based on the statistical data provided, the name Tamaris experienced a brief period of popularity in the United States during the late twentieth century. The highest years for newborns named Tamaris were 1982 and 1986, with seven births each year. This indicates that there was an increase in parents choosing this unique name during these specific years.
Interestingly, after a gap of six years, there were again six births with the name Tamaris in 1992. This suggests that the popularity of the name might have resurged or perhaps there was another factor at play contributing to these occurrences.
It is worth noting that overall, between the years 1982 and 1999, a total of 26 babies were named Tamaris in the United States. While this number may seem relatively low compared to more popular names during this time period, it does indicate that there was some level of consistent interest in the name Tamaris among parents choosing names for their children.
Overall, these statistics provide insight into the trend and popularity of the name Tamaris in the United States over a span of nearly two decades. While not a ubiquitous choice, it is clear that there were periods where parents opted for this unique moniker for their newborns.