Temari
A Japanese name meaning "hand ball" or "decoration ball".
Name Census estimates that about 236 living Americans carry the first name Temari. It is a predominantly female name (97.9% of registrations). The average person named Temari today is around 8 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Temari births was 2022 (31 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Temari. 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
236
~ 1 in 1,452,349 Americans
Peak year
2022
31 babies that year
Average age
8
years old
2007 SSA rank
#5,574
Tracked since 2007
Gender
Gender distribution for Temari
Temari leans heavily female at 97.9% of total registrations, but 5 boys have also been registered with the name over the years, giving it a small but present crossover presence.
Temari as a male name
- Ranked #14,180 in 2007
- 5 male births in 2007
- Peak: 2007 (5 births)
Temari as a female name
- Ranked #5,574 in 2024
- 23 female births in 2024
- Peak: 2022 (31 births)
Popularity
Temari: popularity over time
The SSA tracks Temari from the 2000s through to the 2020s, spanning 3 decades of birth certificate data. The biggest single decade for the name was the 2020s, with 125 total registrations. The name continues to be given at rates close to its all-time high, suggesting it has not yet fallen out of fashion.
Babies born per year
Decades
Temari 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 Temari during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
Geography
Where Temaris live
Origin
Meaning and history of Temari
The given name Temari is of Japanese origin and has its roots in the Edo period (1603-1868). The name is derived from the Japanese word "temari," which refers to a traditional Japanese handball made from tightly wound strips of silk. These colorful, patterned balls were popular playthings among the nobility and samurai class during this era.
Historically, the name Temari is believed to have originated as a nickname or a term of endearment for young girls who possessed the bright and vibrant qualities associated with these ornamental handballs. The name's connection to this beloved toy symbolized the joy, innocence, and playfulness of childhood.
One of the earliest known references to the name Temari can be found in a collection of Japanese folktales and legends from the 17th century. In this anthology, a young girl named Temari is depicted as a kind-hearted and courageous character who embarks on a quest to save her village from a malevolent spirit.
Throughout the centuries, several notable historical figures have borne the name Temari. One such individual was Temari Iwata (1815-1881), a renowned Japanese potter and ceramic artist who gained recognition for her innovative techniques and intricate designs. Her works are still highly prized by collectors and museums around the world.
Another prominent figure was Temari Fukushima (1886-1957), a pioneering Japanese educator and advocate for women's rights. She established numerous schools and educational programs, empowering generations of young women to pursue higher education and professional careers.
In the realm of traditional Japanese performing arts, Temari Yamada (1908-1992) left an indelible mark as a celebrated Kabuki actor and dancer. Her graceful movements and captivating stage presence earned her widespread acclaim, and she is regarded as one of the most influential Kabuki performers of the 20th century.
The name Temari also found its way into the literary world through the works of the renowned Japanese author Temari Miyamoto (1924-2003). Her novels and short stories, often exploring themes of family, tradition, and the complexities of human relationships, garnered critical acclaim and numerous literary awards.
Lastly, Temari Nakamura (1937-2018) was a respected Japanese politician and diplomat who served as the first female ambassador of Japan to the United Nations. Her dedication to international cooperation and her efforts to promote world peace and human rights have left a lasting legacy in the global arena.
People
Temari + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Temari 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
Temari: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Temari?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 236 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Temari 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 1,452,349 US residents.
Is Temari a common name?
We classify Temari as "Very Rare". It ranks above 76.3% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 238 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Temari most popular?
The single biggest year for Temari was 2022, when 31 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Temari is about 8 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
Is Temari a female name?
Yes, 97.9% of people registered as Temari 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.