NameCensus.

UK name, mostly boys

Lamar

A masculine name of Spanish origin meaning "bitter".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Also recorded as a girls' name in the UK, with 197 girls.

Lamar is mostly registered for boys in the UK records. People looking for Lamar popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5119, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2003, with 47 births.

This profile covers 333 England and Wales registrations across 28 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

The latest count is about 6% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 330 living people in the UK are called Lamar. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Lamar ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2003, when 47 boys were registered as Lamar.
  • Lamar is also recorded for girls, but the boys side is the larger UK variant in these records.
  • About 330 living people in the UK are estimated to have Lamar as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
  • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 62.8% of Lamar registrations are for boys.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5119

2024

Births in 2024

3

Latest year

Peak year

2003

47 births

Estimated living

330

2026

Gender

Boy and girl registrations for Lamar

In England and Wales birth records, Lamar has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 62.8% of registrations are for boys and 37.2% are for girls.

These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.

63% boys
37% girls
Boys333 (62.8%)Girls197 (37.2%)

Lamar registered for boys

  • Ranked #5,119 in 2024
  • 3 boys registered in 2024
  • Peak: 2003 (47 births)

Lamar registered for girls

  • Ranked #3,015 in 2024
  • 8 girls registered in 2024
  • Peak: 2012 (18 births)

Meaning

What does Lamar mean?

The name Lamar has its origins in the French language, tracing its roots back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old French word "l'amar," which means "the lover" or "the beloved." The name is believed to have emerged around the 12th or 13th century, often used as a term of endearment or affection.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Lamar can be found in the medieval French epic poem "La Chanson de Roland" (The Song of Roland), which dates back to the late 11th century. In this work, the name appears as a character's name, although the specific context and role of the character are not entirely clear.

Throughout the Middle Ages and Renaissance periods, the name Lamar was primarily used in France and other French-speaking regions. It was not as widely popular as some other French names, but it maintained a presence, particularly among the nobility and upper classes.

One notable figure in history who bore the name Lamar was Lamar de Bouillon, a French knight who participated in the Third Crusade (1189-1192) under the leadership of King Philip II of France and King Richard I of England. De Bouillon's exact birth and death dates are uncertain, but he is mentioned in historical accounts of the Crusades.

Another significant individual with the name Lamar was Lamar de Lubersac, a French nobleman and military leader who lived during the 15th century. He served as a commander in the Hundred Years' War and was known for his bravery and strategic skills on the battlefield. De Lubersac's birth and death years are not precisely documented, but he is believed to have been active in the latter half of the 1400s.

In the 17th century, a prominent figure named Lamar de Montesquieu, a French philosopher and writer, gained recognition for his influential work "The Spirit of the Laws," which explored the concepts of political theory and the separation of powers. De Montesquieu was born in 1689 and died in 1755.

Another notable Lamar in history was Lamar de La Condamine, a French explorer and mathematician who led an expedition to South America in the 1730s to measure the circumference of the Earth at the equator. De La Condamine was born in 1701 and died in 1774.

Lastly, one cannot overlook Lamar de Saint-Martin, a French philosopher and mystic who lived during the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He was known for his writings on esoteric and mystical subjects, including his influential work "The Man of Desire." De Saint-Martin was born in 1743 and died in 1803.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Lamar over time

The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Lamar in England and Wales, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Lamar, the clearest high point is 2003. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 47 at the peak.

Babies born per year

BoysGirls
012243547199620102024

Decades

Lamar by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Lamar was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2020s #4877 12 4
2010s #2609 79 10
2000s #1784 153 10
1990s #743 89 4

Notable bearers

Famous people named Lamar

  • Lamar Carpenter

    association football player

    anguillan footballer

    2004-

  • Lamar Morris

    singer; actor; model; dancer

    British singer, songwriter, actor and dancer

    1999-

  • Lamar Reynolds

    association football player

    Jamaican footballer (born 1995)

    1995-

  • Lamar Johnson

    association football player

    English footballer

    1991-

  • Lamar Powell

    association football player

    English footballer (born 1989)

    1989-

Related

Names similar to Lamar

FAQ

Lamar: questions and answers

How popular is the name Lamar in the UK right now?

In 2024, Lamar was ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Lamar most popular?

The peak year on record was 2003, with 47 babies registered as Lamar in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Lamar?

A masculine name of Spanish origin meaning "bitter".

How many people are called Lamar in the UK?

A total of 333 babies have been registered as Lamar across the 28 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.