Tamem
A masculine Arabic name meaning "perfect" or "complete".
Name Census estimates that about 12 living Americans carry the first name Tamem. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Tamem today is around 10 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Tamem births was 2015 (6 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Tamem. 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 Tamem. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
12
~ 1 in 28,562,862 Americans
Peak year
2015
6 babies that year
Average age
10
years old
2016 SSA rank
#11,982
Tracked since 2015
Popularity
Tamem: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Tamem 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 Tamem during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | 12 | 0 | 12 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Tamem
The name Tamem is of Arabic origin, derived from the root word "tamm" which means "perfect" or "complete." It is believed to have originated in the Arabian Peninsula during the early centuries of the Islamic era.
The name gained popularity among Arab populations and gradually spread to other regions as Islam expanded. Its earliest recorded use can be traced back to historical accounts and manuscripts from the 7th and 8th centuries CE.
One of the earliest known individuals with the name Tamem was Tamem bin Aws, a prominent companion of the Prophet Muhammad and a notable figure in early Islamic history. He lived in the 7th century CE and participated in several significant battles during the early Muslim conquests.
Another historical figure bearing the name Tamem was Tamem bin Habib al-Azdi, a renowned Arab poet and scholar who lived during the 8th century CE. He was widely acclaimed for his literary contributions and played a significant role in preserving and promoting Arabic literature and culture.
In the 9th century CE, Tamem bin al-Muizz al-Abbasid was a prominent military commander and governor who served under the Abbasid Caliphate. He is known for his successful campaigns against rebellious factions and his efforts in maintaining order within the caliphate's territories.
During the 11th century CE, Tamem bin Badi' al-Qadiri was a renowned Sufi scholar and mystic from Baghdad. He was revered for his spiritual teachings and writings, which significantly influenced the development of Sufism in the Islamic world.
Another notable figure with the name Tamem was Tamem bin al-Muizz al-Fatimid, who lived in the 12th century CE. He was a powerful military leader and administrator in the Fatimid Caliphate, known for his military victories and his contributions to the governance and administration of the caliphate's territories.
Throughout history, the name Tamem has been associated with individuals who have made significant contributions in various fields, including religion, literature, military affairs, and governance. Its roots in the Arabic language and its connection to the concept of perfection and completeness have likely contributed to its enduring popularity among Arab and Muslim communities.
People
Tamem + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Tamem 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
Tamem: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Tamem?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 12 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Tamem 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 28,562,862 US residents.
Is Tamem a common name?
We classify Tamem as "Very Rare". It ranks above 32.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 12 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Tamem most popular?
The single biggest year for Tamem was 2015, when 6 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Tamem is about 10 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 Tamem in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Tamem a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Tamem in the SSA data are male. 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 Tamem still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Tamem 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 Tamem 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 common is the name Tamem?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.