How popular is the baby name Tamarisk in the United States right now? How popular was it historically? Use the popularity graph and data table below to find out! Plus, see all the blog posts that mention the name Tamarisk.

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Popularity of the baby name Tamarisk


Posts that mention the name Tamarisk

Where did the baby name Tamarick come from in 1993?

Football player Tamarick Vanover
Tamarick Vanover

The name Tamarick debuted in the U.S. baby name data in 1993:

  • 1996 13 baby boys named Tamarick
  • 1995 9 baby boys named Tamarick
  • 1994 8 baby boys named Tamarick
  • 1993 19 baby boys named Tamarick [debut]
    • 9 born in in Florida
  • 1992: unlisted
  • 1991: unlisted

What put it there?

Wide receiver Tamarick (pronounced tah-MAHR-ik) Vanover, who spent most of his years in the NFL with the Kansas City Chiefs (1995-1999).

But the name debuted several years before his professional career began. And many of those babies were born in Florida specifically. Why?

Because of Tamarick’s successful (if short) college career. He was a key member of Florida State’s football team in 1993 — the year the Seminoles won their first national championship.

What are your thoughts on the baby name Tamarick? (Not to be confused with the name Tamarisk from earlier this week!)

Sources: Tamarick Vanover – Wikipedia, SSA

Where did the baby name Tamarisk come from in 1979?

The book "Tamarisk" (1978)
The book “Tamarisk“

The curious name Tamarisk first popped up in the U.S. baby name data in 1979. It stuck around for one more year, then disappeared again:

  • 1981: unlisted
  • 1980: 5 baby girls named Tamarisk
  • 1979: 9 baby girls named Tamarisk [debut]
  • 1978: unlisted
  • 1977: unlisted

Where did it come from?

A romance novel.

The historical romance Tamarisk (1978) was written by British novelist Claire Lorrimer (pen name of Patricia Robins). It was set in Georgian-era England and the main character was a capricious teenager named Tamarisk Barre.

The book "Tamarisk" (1978)
The book “Tamarisk“

Tamarisk was part of Robins’ “Women of Fire” trilogy, which included Mavreen (1976) and Chantal (1980).

I’m not sure how the character came to have the name “Tamarisk,” but the word refers to the flowering trees/shrubs of the Old World genus Tamarix. Tamarisk trees may have gotten their name from the river Támaris (today called the Tambre) in Spain.

What do you think of Tamarisk as a baby name? Would you use it?

Sources: SSA, Tamarix – Wikipedia, Patricia Robins – Wikipedia