Tamarra
A feminine name of uncertain origin, potentially derived from Arabic meaning "tree" or "date palm."
Name Census estimates that about 1,106 living Americans carry the first name Tamarra. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Tamarra today is around 44 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Tamarra births was 1980 (44 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Tamarra. 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.
People living today
1.1K
~ 1 in 309,904 Americans
Peak year
1980
44 babies that year
Average age
44
years old
2013 SSA rank
#10,924
Tracked since 1943
Popularity
Tamarra: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Tamarra from the 1940s through to the 2010s, spanning 8 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1970s, with 325 total registrations. Usage has dropped considerably from its 1970s peak. The most recent decade brought in only a fraction of the registrations that the name once attracted.
Babies born per year
Decades
Tamarra 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 Tamarra during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Tamarras live
The SSA's state-level files cover 7 states and territories. California, New York, Illinois recorded the most babies named Tamarra, while Texas, Ohio, Florida recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 15 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Tamarra
The name Tamarra is believed to have originated from the Sanskrit language, which dates back to the 2nd millennium BCE in ancient India. It is thought to be derived from the Sanskrit word "tamara," meaning "lotus flower" or "tree." The lotus flower holds significant symbolism in Indian mythology and religion, representing purity, enlightenment, and spiritual awakening.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Tamarra can be found in the ancient Hindu epic, the Mahabharata, which is believed to have been composed between the 8th and 4th centuries BCE. In this epic, Tamarra is mentioned as the name of a beautiful and virtuous princess.
During the medieval period, the name Tamarra gained popularity among various ruling dynasties in India. One notable figure was Tamarra Devi, a Rajput princess who ruled the kingdom of Gwalior in the 15th century CE. She was known for her bravery and military tactics, successfully defending her kingdom against invading forces.
In the 16th century, a renowned Indian poet and scholar, Tamarra Kavi, made significant contributions to the Telugu literature. His works, including the famous poem "Tamarra Ramayanam," a retelling of the Hindu epic Ramayana, are still widely studied and appreciated today.
Another historical figure with the name Tamarra was Tamarra Bundu, a 17th-century African queen who ruled the Kingdom of Bundu (present-day Guinea-Bissau) with wisdom and strength. She is celebrated for her efforts in promoting trade and diplomacy with neighboring kingdoms.
In the 19th century, Tamarra Desai was a prominent Indian social reformer and advocate for women's education. She established several schools and organizations aimed at empowering women and promoting their rights in a patriarchal society.
While the name Tamarra has its roots in ancient India and has been carried by notable figures throughout history, it has also gained popularity in various cultures and regions around the world, with variations in spelling and pronunciation.
People
Tamarra + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Tamarra 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
Tamarra: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Tamarra?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1,106 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Tamarra 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 309,904 US residents.
Is Tamarra a common name?
We classify Tamarra as "Rare". It ranks above 90.7% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 1,220 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Tamarra most popular?
The single biggest year for Tamarra was 1980, when 44 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Tamarra is about 44 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Tamarra a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Tamarra 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.