TAMARA

Tamara: translation

Russian: probably derived from theHebrewnameTamar‘date palm’, with the addition of the feminine suffix -a. The name Tamar is borne in the Bible by two female characters: the daughter-in-law of Judah, who is involved in a somewhat seamy story of sexual intrigue (Genesis 38), and a daughter of King David (2 Samuel 13), the full sister of Absalom, who is raped by her half-brother Amnon, for which Absalom kills him. It is rather surprising, therefore, that it should have given rise to such a popular given name. However, Absalom himself later has a daughter named Tamar, who is referred to as ‘a woman of a fair countenance’ (2 Samuel 14: 27), and the name may derive its popularity from this reference.