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    The first name Lamar

    A boy’s name from French meaning “the pool”.

    Pronounced /ləˈmɑː(ɹ)/ 2 syllables Male Also a surname

    Meaning and origin

    French origin

    Lamar means “the pool” in French.

    From a placename in Normandy, which was derived from Old French la mare (“the pool”).

    From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

    Popularity

    Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

    In 2025, 7 girls were named Lamar, making it the 3,333rd most popular girls’ name. It peaked in 2003, with 47 births (#509).

    02550 1996200020052010201520202025
    GirlsBoys
    541
    babies named Lamar, 1996–2025
    #3,333
    rank in 2025
    2003
    peak year

    Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Lamar with other names.

    Popularity in the United States

    Babies named Lamar at birth, 1880–2025

    In 2025, 115 boys born in the United States were named Lamar, the 1,517th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1989, when 737 were.

    0400800 188018851890189519001905191019151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025
    GirlsBoys
    35,251
    babies named Lamar since 1880
    #1,517
    rank in 2025
    1989
    peak year

    US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

    Famous people named Lamar

    25 on Wikidata, most written-about first

    • Lamar Odom
      American basketball player (born 1979)
    • Lamar Alexander
      American politician, born 1940
    • Lamar Jackson
      American football player (born 1997)
    • Lamar S. Smith
      American politician, born 1947
    • Lamar Hunt
      American sports executive (1932–2006)
    • Lamar Patterson
      American basketball player (born 1991)
    • Lamar Stevens
      American basketball player (born 1997)
    • Lamar Johnson
      Canadian actor and dancer, born 1994
    • Lamar Trotti
      American film producer (1900–1952)
    • Lamar Neagle
      American professional soccer player, born 1987
    • Edward Lamar Johnstone
      American actor (1884-1919)
    • Lamar Miller
      American football player, born 1991

    More French boys’ names

    All 210 names of French origin

    Questions

    What does the name Lamar mean?
    Lamar means “the pool” in French.
    What is the origin of the name Lamar?
    From a placename in Normandy, which was derived from Old French la mare (“the pool”).
    How popular is the name Lamar?
    In 2025, 7 girls born in England and Wales were named Lamar, ranking 3,333rd. Its peak was 2003, with 47 births.
    Is Lamar a boy's or a girl's name?
    Mostly a boy's name: 96% of the 35,251 US babies named Lamar since 1880 were boys.
    When was Lamar most popular?
    1989 in the United States, when 737 babies were named Lamar, its highest rank at 325th.
    How do you pronounce Lamar?
    Lamar is /ləˈmɑː(ɹ)/, 2 syllables.
    Is Lamar also a surname?
    Yes. Lamar is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.