Boy · #8,866 in 2026

Tamal

A tamale is a traditional Mesoamerican dish made of masa, a dough made from nixtamalized corn, which is steamed in a corn husk or banana leaves. The wrapping can either be discarded prior to eating or used as a plate. Tamales can be filled with meats, cheeses, fruits, vegetables, herbs, chilies, or any preparation according to taste, and both the filling and the cooking liquid may be seasoned.

Current Rank
#8,866
Peak Rank
#4,505 (1973)
Total Babies
16
5-Yr Trend
Stable
1973
First Year
1995
Last Year
1973
Peak Year
#4505
Peak Rank
16
Total Count
3
Years Active

Meaning & Origin of Tamal

What this name means, where it came from, and how it has traveled across cultures.

A tamale is a traditional Mesoamerican dish made of masa, a dough made from nixtamalized corn, which is steamed in a corn husk or banana leaves. The wrapping can either be discarded prior to eating or used as a plate. Tamales can be filled with meats, cheeses, fruits, vegetables, herbs, chilies, or any preparation according to taste, and both the filling and the cooking liquid may be seasoned.

Source: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 3.0). Read more →

Origin & history
Tamales originated in Mesoamerica as early as 8000 to 5000 BC. The preparation of tamales is likely to have spread from the indigenous cultures in Mesoamerica to the rest of the Americas. According to archaeologists Karl Taube , William Saturno , and David Stuart , tamales may date from around 100 AD. They found pictorial references in the Mural of San Bartolo , in Petén, Guatemala. The Aztec and Maya civilizations, as well as the Olmec and Toltec before them, used tamales as easily portable food for hunting trips, traveling large distances, and nourishing their armies. Tamales were also consi

The Story of Tamal

Tamal first appeared in U.S. Social Security Administration records as a baby boy name in 1973, with 6 babies given the name that year. The name hit its high-water mark in 1973: 6 births, good for #4,505 nationwide. About 69% of every Tamal on record arrived during the 1970s, its defining decade. Tamal last appeared in the published SSA data in 1995, with 5 recorded births — it has not charted nationally since. All told, over 16 Americans have carried the name since 1880, from the 1970s to the 2020s.

Popularity Over Time

Popularity by State

ME
WA
MT
ND
MN
WI
MI
NY
VT
NH
MA
OR
ID
SD
IA
IL
IN
OH
PA
NJ
CT
RI
CA
NV
WY
NE
MO
KY
WV
VA
MD
DE
DC
UT
CO
KS
AR
TN
NC
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AK
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OK
LA
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AL
GA
HI
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Top 10
11-50
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500+
No data

Names that sound like Tamal

Phonetically similar names — useful when Tamal is the vibe but a different syllable count or letter feel might suit better. Linked entries have a profile on Peek a Name.

  • Tamil
  • Tml
  • Tunnel
  • Tamale
  • Tunnell
  • Tunel
  • Tamala
  • Timal
  • Taml
  • Hemal
  • Dumbell
  • Domal

Source: Datamuse . Phonetic similarity ranking, not curated.

Frequently Asked Questions about Tamal

What does the name Tamal mean?
A tamale is a traditional Mesoamerican dish made of masa, a dough made from nixtamalized corn, which is steamed in a corn husk or banana leaves. The wrapping can either be discarded prior to eating or used as a plate. Tamales can be filled with meats, cheeses, fruits, vegetables, herbs, chilies, or any preparation according to taste, and both the filling and the cooking liquid may be seasoned.
How popular is Tamal in 2026?
In 2026, Tamal ranks #8,866 among boys' names in the U.S., with 5 babies given the name that year.
When was Tamal most popular?
Tamal reached its peak popularity in 1973, ranking #4,505 that year with 6 babies given the name.
Is Tamal a unisex name?
In U.S. Social Security records, Tamal is primarily a boy's name. We don't have meaningful data for it as a girl's name.
What names go well with Tamal?
Names that share a similar style or popularity range with Tamal include Dupre, Chappell, Eirc. These pairings are based on rank proximity and naming era in U.S. data.

Similar Names

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Dupre
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Chappell
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👦
Eirc
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👦
Gumercindo
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👦
Willilam
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👦
Allyson
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Keeley
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Dwone
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About the name Tamal

Tamal is a boy baby name tracked by the U.S. Social Security Administration. It first appeared in SSA records in 1973 and has accumulated 16 births in the dataset. Tamal's peak popularity came in 1973 when it ranked #4,505. Use the chart and map above to compare Tamal's trajectory across years and U.S. states, or browse the related names section to discover similar choices.

Continue exploring

Data sources

  • Birth statistics (counts, ranks, years 1880–2026) — U.S. Social Security Administration . Predictions for years not yet released by SSA are computed by Peek a Name from historical trends; we update with official data as soon as it ships.
  • Etymology, cultural origins, and related forms — Behind the Name (used under their public API terms).
  • Meaning prose and editorial summary — Wikipedia article extracts, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 .
  • Predicted nationality distribution — Nationalize.io .
  • Phonetically similar names — Datamuse .

Peek a Name aggregates and presents the above data for informational purposes. Statistical predictions and external attributions are clearly labelled where shown; we make no guarantee of accuracy beyond what each source provides.