The name Tammy is an English diminutive form of the feminine given name Thomasina, which ultimately derives from the ancient Aramaic name Thomas, meaning "twin." The name Thomasina itself is a feminine form of the Latin name Thomas, which was derived from the Aramaic name. Tammy emerged as a shortened version of Thomasina in the 19th century.

The earliest recorded use of the name Tammy dates back to the early 1800s in England. One of the earliest known individuals with the name was Tammy Wray, an English writer and novelist born in 1837. She wrote several popular novels during the Victorian era, including "A Daughter of the Philistines" and "A Cruel Dilemma."

Another notable historical figure named Tammy was Tammy Wynette, an American country music singer born in 1942. She was known as the "First Lady of Country Music" and was one of the most influential and successful female country artists of the 20th century. Her hit songs included "Stand by Your Man," "D-I-V-O-R-C-E," and "Til I Can Make It on My Own."

In the world of literature, Tammy Greenstone was an American author and journalist born in 1928. She wrote several notable works, including "Where the Wildflowers Grow," a memoir about growing up in the American South during the Great Depression.

Tammy Bakker, born in 1942, was an American Christian evangelist and television personality. She co-founded the Heritage USA Christian theme park and the PTL (Praise the Lord) television network with her husband, Jim Bakker.

Tammy Duckworth is an American politician and former U.S. Army lieutenant colonel who served as the U.S. Representative for Illinois's 8th congressional district from 2013 to 2017 and has been a U.S. Senator from Illinois since 2017. She was born in 1968.

While the name Tammy was most popular in the mid-20th century, it has a long and rich history dating back to its Aramaic roots and has been borne by notable figures across various fields throughout the centuries.