Tamela is a modern English female first name that first arose in the 1950s, probably a blend of Tamara and Pamela coinciding with the height of Tamara's popularity in the United States at that time.
Etymology and Origin
The name Tamela is believed to be a combination of the sounds from Tamara and Pamela. Tamara is the Russian form of the biblical name Tamar (meaning "date palm" in Hebrew), introduced to English-speaking audiences by several Russian performers in the 20th century such as Tamara Karsavina and Tamara Toumanova. It rapidly gained popularity in the United States starting in 1957. Pamela, on the other hand, is a literary name coined by Sir Philip Sidney in the 16th century for his poem Arcadia. The blending of these two well-known names likely appealed to parents seeking a distinctive yet familiar-sounding name for their daughters.
Cultural Context
The appearance of Tamela in the 1950s reflects a broader mid-century American trend of inventing new names by merging existing ones—a practice particularly common in the United States. However, unlike its component names, Tamela never achieved widespread popularity and remains relatively rare.
Note
In a separate context, Tamela is also the scientific name of a genus of skippers (butterflies) in the family Hesperiidae, found in South America. This entomological usage is unrelated to the given name.
- Meaning: Blend of Tamara and Pamela
- Origin: Modern English invention (first recorded 1950s)
- Type: First name (feminine)
- Usage regions: Primarily English-speaking countries, especially the United States