Given name
Tammy
Tammy is connected with Tamara and Tamsin in English naming traditions.
Meaning & origin
How it developed
In English use, Tammy is used as an affectionate form of Tamara. In English use, Tammy is used as an affectionate form of Tamsin.
The story
Published U.S. birth records include this spelling as early as 1934. This is the earliest published observation available here, rather than a date for the name’s origin.
From dated birth records
Tammy through the years
- Babies since 1880
- 333,407
- 1,392 boys · 332,015 girls
- Most popular year
- 1963
- 21,246 babies
- 2025
- 41
- #3,703 for girls
- 2021–25 vs 2016–20
- −33%
- Easing
Where it’s given
By the numbers
In 2025, this name appeared in 41 U.S. birth records for girls, ranking No. 3,703 among girls’ names. Average annual use for girls was 33.5% lower in 2021–2025 than in 2016–2020. Its largest published annual count for girls was 21,199 in 1963. In 2025, New Jersey had the largest reported state-level birth count for girls with this name (6). Published U.S. population figures for this spelling include 277,310 as a first name in 2020.
From Social Security birth records and U.S. Census name counts for this exact spelling. Other spellings are counted separately.
Tammy’s family of names
In English usage, Tammy is a diminutive of Tamara. In English usage, Tammy has a related form in TAMMIE. Tammy is an affectionate form of Tamara.
Inner ring: spellings · middle: nicknames and forms · outer: across languages.
Nicknames & forms 6
Diminutives, pet forms, short forms and variants used alongside the name.
Spellings & scripts 1
The same name written differently, including transliterations into other scripts.
Across languages 3
Equivalents and cognates in other languages, plus older forms it grew from.
People named Tammy
- Tammy AbrahamEnglish association football playerborn 1997
- Tammy DuckworthAmerican politician and military officer (born 1968)
- Tammy BaldwinAmerican lawyer and politician (born 1962)
- Tammy BlanchardAmerican actress and singerborn 1976
- Tammy GrimesAmerican actress and singer (1934-2016)
- Tammy Faye MessnerAmerican evangelist (1942-2007)
- Tammy JacksonAmerican basketball player (born 1962)
- Tammy BruceAmerican conservative radio host, author, and political commentatorborn 1962
- Tammy ClelandAmerican synchronized swimmerborn 1975
Listed by how widely each person is written about, which says nothing about the name itself.
Similar names
If you love Tammy, these share its style, era, origin or sound, from outside its own family.
Cami
“crooked nose”
>99% girls
Toni
“a flourishing man; from an ancient Roman family”
8% boys · 92% girls
Terri
“a harvester” · “learned”
>99% girls
Teddie
“a wealthy protector” · “God”
16% boys · 84% girls
Mimi
Mimi is used as a given name and a surname. Mimi is connected with Maria.
>99% girls
Ami
“one who is industrious and hardworking”
23% boys · 77% girls
Tamera
“date palm”
>99% girls
Tanya
“queen of the fairies”
>99% girls