Tamica
A feminine name of uncertain origin, possibly from Tamika.
Name Census estimates that about 1,968 living Americans carry the first name Tamica. The name is used almost exclusively for girls. The average person named Tamica today is around 47 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Tamica births was 1976 (180 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Tamica. 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
2.0K
~ 1 in 174,164 Americans
Peak year
1976
180 babies that year
Average age
47
years old
2003 SSA rank
#15,571
Tracked since 1967
Popularity
Tamica: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Tamica from the 1960s through to the 2000s, spanning 5 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 1970s, with 1,220 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
Tamica 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 Tamica during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Tamicas live
The SSA's state-level files cover 20 states and territories. Texas, Illinois, New York recorded the most babies named Tamica, while Missouri, Maryland, South Carolina recorded the fewest. The average across all reporting states is about 63 registrations each.
Origin
Meaning and history of Tamica
The name Tamica is a relatively modern name that appears to have originated in the United States in the 20th century. It is likely a blend of the names Tamara and Tamika, both of which have roots in various languages and cultures.
Tamara is a name of Russian origin, derived from the Hebrew name Tamar, which means "date palm tree." It was popularized in the 19th century by the novel "Tamara" by Mikhail Lermontov. Tamika, on the other hand, is a name of African-American origin, potentially derived from the Swahili word "tamka," meaning "to speak."
While the exact origins of the name Tamica are unclear, it is believed to have emerged in the mid-20th century as a unique combination of these two names. It may have been influenced by the growing popularity of African-American and Russian-inspired names during this period.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Tamica can be found in the 1940 United States Census, where a small number of individuals were listed with this name. However, it did not gain widespread usage until the latter half of the 20th century.
Over the years, several notable individuals have borne the name Tamica. One such person is Tamica Washington (born 1975), an American singer and songwriter who has worked with various artists, including Erykah Badu and D'Angelo. Another is Tamica Mayes (born 1982), an American professional basketball player who played in the WNBA for several teams.
Additionally, Tamica Ward (born 1985) is an American former professional basketball player who played in the WNBA for the Connecticut Sun. Tamica Mallory (born 1980) is an American activist and co-founder of the Women's March on Washington. Tamica Leonard (born 1987) is an American professional basketball player who has played in the WNBA and overseas.
While the name Tamica is not as widely used as some other names, it has gained recognition and popularity among various communities, particularly in the United States. Its unique blend of cultural influences and modern appeal has contributed to its enduring presence in the naming traditions of the 20th and 21st centuries.
People
Tamica + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Tamica 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
Tamica: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Tamica?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 1,968 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Tamica 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 174,164 US residents.
Is Tamica a common name?
We classify Tamica as "Rare". It ranks above 93.6% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 2,139 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Tamica most popular?
The single biggest year for Tamica was 1976, when 180 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Tamica is about 47 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Tamica a female name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Tamica 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.