The name Tamar is of Hebrew origin, derived from the Semitic root "tmr," which means "date palm." It's a feminine name that has been used for thousands of years.

In the Hebrew Bible, Tamar was the daughter-in-law of Judah, one of the twelve sons of Jacob. Her story is recounted in Genesis 38, where she resorts to trickery to become pregnant by Judah and give birth to twin sons, Perez and Zerah. This incident is significant in the genealogy of Jesus Christ, as Perez is an ancestor of the Messiah.

The name Tamar also appears in the Book of Samuel, referring to a daughter of King David. She was famously raped by her half-brother Amnon, an act that ultimately led to Amnon's death at the hands of Tamar's brother Absalom.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Tamar dates back to the 9th century BCE, found on an ostracon (pottery shard) from the ancient city of Arad in modern-day Israel.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Tamar. In the 1st century CE, Tamar was the wife of the Jewish leader Anilai, who led a revolt against the Roman Empire in Mesopotamia. Tamar of Georgia (c. 1160-1213) was a powerful queen regnant of the Bagrationi dynasty, known for her military campaigns and patronage of the arts.

Tamar the Great (c. 1200-1264) was a Mongol princess and the wife of Hulagu Khan, the founder of the Ilkhanate dynasty in Persia. She played a crucial role in the expansion of the Mongol Empire and the development of trade routes.

Tamar Kali (c. 1585-1655) was a prominent female poet and composer in the Mughal Empire, renowned for her contributions to the development of the Brajbhasha literary tradition.

Tamar of Georgia (1958-) is a contemporary Georgian politician and diplomat, serving as the first female president of Georgia from 2007 to 2013.