Tamari
A Hebrew name meaning either "date palm tree" or "the highest branch".
Name Census estimates that about 1,068 living Americans carry the first name Tamari. It appears on both sides of the gender split, with 63.3% of registrations being female. The average person named Tamari today is around 16 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Tamari births was 2023 (61 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Tamari. 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
- • Tamari sits in rare territory as a truly gender-neutral name, given to boys and girls in near-equal numbers.
- • Tamari is a relatively new arrival in the SSA data. The average bearer is just 16 years old, meaning it gained most of its traction in the last two decades.
People living today
1.1K
~ 1 in 320,931 Americans
Peak year
2023
61 babies that year
Average age
16
years old
2024 SSA rank
#6,405
Tracked since 1965
Gender
Gender distribution for Tamari
Tamari is one of the more evenly split names in the SSA data. Of the 1,083 total registrations, 397 (36.7%) were male and 686 (63.3%) were female.
Tamari as a male name
- Ranked #6,405 in 2024
- 14 male births in 2024
- Peak: 2023 (29 births)
Tamari as a female name
- Ranked #6,876 in 2024
- 17 female births in 2024
- Peak: 2005 (35 births)
Popularity
Tamari: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Tamari from the 1960s through to the 2020s, spanning 7 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2010s, with 381 total registrations. Although the numbers have come down from the 2010s peak, Tamari remains solidly in use and shows no sign of disappearing from maternity wards.
Babies born per year
Decades
Tamari 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 Tamari during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Tamaris live
The SSA's state-level files cover 4 states and territories. Florida, Georgia, New York recorded the most babies named Tamari, while Tennessee, New York, Georgia recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 8 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Tamari
The name Tamari is believed to have its origins in the Tamil language, which is primarily spoken in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu and the neighboring countries of Sri Lanka and Singapore. The name is thought to derive from the Tamil word "tamarai," meaning "lotus flower."
The lotus flower holds significant cultural and religious symbolism in Hindu and Buddhist traditions, representing purity, enlightenment, and spiritual growth. It is often associated with deities such as Lakshmi, the Hindu goddess of wealth and prosperity, and is revered for its ability to emerge from murky waters untainted.
While the exact origin and earliest recorded use of the name Tamari are difficult to pinpoint, it is likely that it has been in use for centuries, particularly in the regions where Tamil culture and language have flourished. The name may have been bestowed upon children as a way to imbue them with the positive qualities associated with the lotus flower.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Tamari was Tamari Kunar, a 12th-century Sanskrit scholar and poet from the Chola dynasty in southern India. His works, which included poetry and plays, were influential in shaping the literary landscape of his time.
In more recent history, Tamari Kitoshita (1936-2020) was a renowned Japanese actress and singer who gained popularity in the 1960s and 1970s. Her career spanned over six decades, and she was celebrated for her versatility in both dramatic and comedic roles.
Another notable figure with the name Tamari was Tamari Tundogan (1928-2012), a Turkish artist known for her vibrant and expressive paintings. Her work often depicted scenes from rural life in Turkey and celebrated the country's cultural heritage.
Tamari Qurashi (born 1957) is a prominent Afghan activist and journalist who has been a vocal advocate for women's rights and freedom of expression in her home country. Her courageous reporting and activism have earned her numerous international awards and recognition.
In the realm of sports, Tamari Miyashiro (born 1983) is a Japanese professional wrestler who has competed in various promotions, including All Japan Pro Wrestling and Pro Wrestling: EVE. She is known for her technical prowess and has held several championships throughout her career.
While the name Tamari may have originated from the Tamil language and culture, it has since transcended geographical boundaries and has been adopted by individuals from diverse backgrounds, each bringing their unique stories and contributions to the rich tapestry of history associated with this name.
People
Tamari + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Tamari as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with T
Other first names starting with T with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Tamari: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Tamari?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1,068 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Tamari 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 320,931 US residents.
Is Tamari a common name?
We classify Tamari as "Rare". It ranks above 90.5% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,083 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Tamari most popular?
The single biggest year for Tamari was 2023, when 61 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Tamari is about 16 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Tamari a female name?
Yes, 63.3% of people registered as Tamari 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.
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.