Lametra
Feminine name derived from Latin meaning "brilliant woman" or "woman of light".
Name Census estimates that about 52 living Americans carry the first name Lametra. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Lametra today is around 48 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Lametra births was 1977 (10 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Lametra. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Lametra. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
52
~ 1 in 6,591,430 Americans
Peak year
1977
10 babies that year
Average age
48
years old
1984 SSA rank
#9,773
Tracked since 1970
Popularity
Lametra: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Lametra from the 1970s through to the 1980s, spanning 2 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1970s, with 36 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 1970s peak, Lametra remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Lametra by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Lametra during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Origin
Meaning and history of Lametra
The name Lametra has its origins in the Greek language and culture, dating back to the ancient civilization of Greece. It is derived from the Greek word "lampros," which means "shining" or "brilliant." The name was likely given to individuals who possessed a radiant or captivating presence.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Lametra can be found in the works of the ancient Greek poet Hesiod, who lived in the 8th century BC. In his epic poem "Theogony," Hesiod mentions a character named Lametra, though little is known about the significance of this character.
During the Byzantine era, which spanned from the 4th to the 15th century AD, the name Lametra gained popularity among the upper classes of Greek society. Records from this period indicate that several influential women bore this name, including Lametra Palaiologina, a noblewoman who lived in the 14th century.
In the realm of ancient Greek mythology, the name Lametra is associated with the goddess Artemis, who was revered as the protector of young girls and the patroness of childbirth. Some scholars suggest that the name Lametra may have been given to girls as a way to invoke the goddess's blessing and protection.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the name Lametra. One of the earliest recorded figures was Lametra of Thessaly (c. 400 BC), a renowned Greek mathematician and philosopher who made significant contributions to the field of geometry. Another notable bearer of the name was Lametra Komnena (1045-1105), a Byzantine princess and scholar who played a crucial role in preserving ancient Greek texts.
In the modern era, one of the most famous individuals with the name Lametra was Lametra Scott (1936-2019), an American civil rights activist and educator. Scott dedicated her life to promoting equality and social justice, working tirelessly to improve educational opportunities for underprivileged communities.
Other notable individuals with the name Lametra include Lametra Bracy (born 1987), an American professional basketball player; Lametra Garrett (born 1979), an American singer and songwriter; and Lametra Williams (born 1976), a former professional tennis player from the United States.
While the name Lametra may not be as common today as it once was, its rich history and connection to the ancient Greek culture make it a unique and intriguing choice for parents seeking a name with deep roots and cultural significance.
People
Lametra + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Lametra as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with L
Other first names starting with L with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Lametra: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Lametra?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 52 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Lametra going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 6,591,430 US residents.
Is Lametra a common name?
We classify Lametra as "Very Rare". It ranks above 54.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 57 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Lametra most popular?
The single biggest year for Lametra was 1977, when 10 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Lametra is about 48 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Lametra in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Lametra a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Lametra in the SSA data are female. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Lametra still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Lametra in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Lametra can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have the name Lametra?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.