Tamar is a name of Hebrew origin, meaning "date" or "palm tree." It is derived from the Hebrew word "tamer," which refers to the fruit of the date palm tree. Tamar has been used as a given name for both males and females throughout history, although it is more commonly associated with women today.
The name Tamar first appears in the Bible, where it is borne by several characters. One notable figure is Tamar, a Canaanite woman who married Judah, one of the sons of Jacob. According to the biblical account, Tamar was widowed twice and eventually became the mother of Perez and Zerah, twins whose descendants would become kings of Israel.
In addition to its biblical associations, the name Tamar has been used by several historical figures throughout history. For example, Tamar I, also known as Queen Tamar, ruled Georgia in the 12th century and is remembered for her military victories against invading armies. More recently, Tamar Esenovich, a Russian ballerina, was one of the leading dancers at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow during the early 20th century.
Today, Tamar continues to be used as a given name around the world. Its popularity has varied over time and across different regions, but it remains a distinctive and meaningful choice for parents looking for a unique name with deep historical roots.
The name Tamar has been a consistent presence in the United States over the past five decades, with varying popularity from year to year.
In the early 1970s, the number of babies named Tamar was relatively low, with only 6 or 7 births per year. However, this began to change in the mid-1970s, with a peak of 23 births in both 1976 and 1978. This popularity continued into the early 1980s, with around 20 births each year.
The late 1980s saw a slight decline in the number of babies named Tamar, but this trend reversed in the early 1990s, with over 19 births per year between 1994 and 1997. The turn of the millennium marked another peak for the name, with a total of 42 births recorded in the year 2000 alone.
However, after this high point, the popularity of the name Tamar began to wane once again. Between 2006 and 2017, the number of babies named Tamar hovered around 15-20 births per year. In recent years, there has been a further decline in the use of the name, with only 5-8 births recorded annually between 2019 and 2023.
In total, over the past five decades, there have been 884 babies named Tamar born in the United States. Despite fluctuations in popularity, this unique name continues to be a presence on birth certificates across the country.