Total births
7,186
Girls' name · since 1947
Tamela
Since 1947, U.S. Social Security records show 7,186 babies named Tamela, peaking in 1959. See the year-by-year trend, decade totals, and state rankings below, sourced from federal birth data.
- 7,186
- total births
- 1947–2018
- years on record
- 1960s
- peak decade
- 48%
- born in that decade
7,186 girls have been named Tamela since 1947, though it isn't currently a top-ranked name.
Social Security Administration records show Tamela recorded 7,186 times among girls since 1947, though it doesn't currently rank among the most-used girls names, peaking in the 1960s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1947 to 2018.
- 7,186 total births
- 1947–2018 years on record
- 1960s peak decade
- 48% born in that decade
Data updated Jul 2026
The verdict
7,186 girls have been named Tamela since 1947, peaking in the 1960s, last recorded in 2018.
- 7,186
- total births
- 1947–2018
- years on record
- 1960s
- peak decade
- 48%
- born in that decade
1960s
Peak decade
48% of everyone ever named Tamela was born in this single decade.
1959
Single peak year
390 babies were named Tamela in 1959 - its busiest year on record.
Tamela's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Tamela's SSA record in two at 1979 and the more recent half accounts for 15% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 85%, consistent with a name more common in the past than in recent years. Its calmest year was 2005, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1959 peak of 390, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Tamela at a glance
Last recorded 2018Peak year
1959
Current rank
Unranked
Active since
1947
Tamela popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1947–2018
- Peak year (1959)
- 390
- Annual births at peak, across 72 years of records
Tamela by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1960s was Tamela's strongest decade.
3,436 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 48% of all-time use.
Tamela births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1940s 25
1940s
25 births
- 1950s 997
1950s
997 births
- 1960s
1960s
3,436 births
- 1970s
1970s
1,735 births
- 1980s 674
1980s
674 births
- 1990s 226
1990s
226 births
- 2000s 74
2000s
74 births
- 2010s 19
2010s
19 births
What this shows Peak: 1960s at 3,436 births (48% of all-time use).
How Tamela compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 girls names closest to Tamela's total volume
Tamela vs 15 similarly-sized girls names
Tamela by state
Where Tamela concentrates geographically, total births since 1947
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Ohio | | 552 | 7.7% |
| #2 | Texas | | 381 | 5.3% |
| #3 | Illinois | | 318 | 4.4% |
| #4 | Michigan | | 310 | 4.3% |
| #5 | California | | 299 | 4.2% |
| #6 | North Carolina | | 281 | 3.9% |
| #7 | Indiana | | 269 | 3.7% |
| #8 | Alabama | | 265 | 3.7% |
Ohio share of Tamela's total US births 7.7%
Even split
552 of 7,186 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 36 reporting states.
Tamela appears in 36 states. Explore state details →
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Tamela? ▼
Since 1947, Social Security records show 7,186 babies named Tamela. The most recent recorded year was 2018. Its busiest year on record was 1959, with 390 births.
When was Tamela most popular? ▼
Tamela was most popular in the 1960s decade with 3,436 total births. The single peak year was 1959.
Where is Tamela most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Tamela are Ohio (552 births), Texas (381 births), Illinois (318 births).
How long has the name Tamela been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Tamela since 1947 -- 72 years through the most recent 2018 data.
What names are similar to Tamela? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Tammy, Tamara, Tami, Tammie, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for girls.
What to do with Tamela's data
- Tamela's decade-level peak was the 1960s (3,436 total births); usage has since declined to 19 in the 2010s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- Ohio records the most Tamelas (552 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. Ohio names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Tamela
Nearby Names Like Tamela
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Tamela
Tammy Girl
#4794 332,015 births
Tamara Girl
#1761 131,286 births
Tami Girl
#11244 37,927 births
Tammie Girl
35,380 births
Tamika Girl
22,760 births
Compare Tamela side by side: Tamela vs Tammy Tamela vs Tamara Tamela vs Tami
Related Names
Names with a similar number of total births
Data Sources
Data as of July 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1947–2018 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Tamela: Baby Name Since 1947 - 7,186 Births, Peak 1959." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/tamela. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Tamela draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of July 2026.