Tamela: Name Popularity, History & Rankings (1880

By decade. Change compares yearly averages, so the current partial decade is on equal footing. Best rank is the name's best yearly rank within the decade.

Decade	Girls	Per year	Change	Best rank
1880s	–	–	–	–
1890s	–	–	–	–
1900s	–	–	–	–
1910s	–	–	–	–
1920s	–	–	–	–
1930s	–	–	–	–
1940s	25	3	–	#3,677
1950s	997	100	+3888%	#493
1960s	3,436	344	+245%	#494
1970s	1,735	174	-50%	#579
1980s	674	67	-61%	#1,226
1990s	226	23	-66%	#2,878
2000s	74	7	-67%	#9,295
2010s	19	2	-74%	#14,695
2020s (to 2025)	–	–	–	–

Decade

Girls

Per year

Change

Best rank

1880s

–

1890s

–

1900s

–

1910s

–

1920s

–

1930s

–

1940s

–

#3,677

1950s

997

100

+3888%

#493

1960s

3,436

344

+245%

#494

1970s

1,735

174

-50%

#579

1980s

674

-61%

#1,226

1990s

226

-66%

#2,878

2000s

-67%

#9,295

2010s

-74%

#14,695

2020s (to 2025)

–

The story of Tamela

Tamela is not currently in use for newborns in the United States: fewer than five babies received the name in 2025. Its story lives in the historical record below.

Since 1947, 7,186 American babies have been named Tamela. Its peak came in 1959, when 390 newborns received the name, the signature sound of the 1950s.

The chart above shows the full history: the popularity view (births per 1,000 babies) is the honest comparison across generations, since total US births have changed enormously since 1880. Switch to the rank view to see where Tamela stood among all girls' names in any year, or use the compare tool to plot it against other names.

How old are people named Tamela?

The median living Tamela is about 58 years old; half are between 51 and 63. An estimated 6,600 people named Tamela are alive in the United States today.

Estimated from births per year and Social Security period life tables; an approximation of the living age distribution, by age in years.

Tamela year by year

Every year since 2001, and five-year steps back to 1880. Rank is within each sex.

Year	Girls	Girls rank
2025	–	–
2024	–	–
2023	–	–
2022	–	–
2021	–	–
2020	–	–
2019	–	–
2018	6	#15,476
2017	–	–
2016	–	–
2015	–	–
2014	–	–
2013	6	#16,344
2012	–	–
2011	7	#14,695
2010	–	–
2009	–	–
2008	5	#20,156
2007	7	#15,312
2006	11	#10,548
2005	5	#18,893
2004	8	#12,646
2003	9	#11,234
2002	9	#11,008
2001	11	#9,295
2000	9	#10,657
1995	15	#6,233
1990	35	#3,220
1985	61	#1,854
1980	108	#1,226
1975	157	#857
1970	308	#579
1965	286	#565
1960	383	#494
1955	27	#2,101
1950	12	#3,216
1945	–	–
1940	–	–
1935	–	–
1930	–	–
1925	–	–
1920	–	–
1915	–	–
1910	–	–
1905	–	–
1900	–	–
1895	–	–
1890	–	–
1885	–	–
1880	–	–

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about Tamela, drawn from the same Social Security data as the charts above.

How old is the average Tamela?

The median living Tamela is about 58 years old. Half of all living Tamelas are between 51 and 63 years old.

How many people named Tamela are alive today?

An estimated 6,600 people named Tamela are alive in the United States, based on 7,186 recorded births and Social Security life tables.

How popular is the name Tamela in 2025?

Tamela did not appear in the 2025 Social Security data, which means fewer than five babies received the name that year.

How many people are named Tamela?

7,186 babies have been named Tamela in the United States since 1947, based on Social Security card applications.

When was the name Tamela most popular?

Tamela peaked in 1959, when 390 newborns received the name.

Is Tamela a boy or girl name?

Tamela is overwhelmingly a girl's name: 100% of babies with the name.

Is the name Tamela rising or falling?

Tamela is declining, less popular now than a decade ago.

Tamela

Tamela popularity over time

The story of Tamela

How old are people named Tamela?

Tamela year by year

Frequently asked questions

Names like Tamela