Tama — Dog Name Meaning, Origin & Popularity
Tama (TAH-mah), 2 syllables — Meaning 'son' or 'boy' in te reo Māori.. Verified by the Pets In The City editorial team, with real popularity data from our Auckland community.
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What does Tama mean?
te reo Māori: Meaning 'son' or 'boy' in te reo Māori.. Tama is a name of te reo Māori origin that means 'son' or 'boy'. It is commonly used in Māori culture and carries cultural significance.
Our editors checked this meaning before publishing. Names with several genuine origins are shown as separate senses rather than a single claim.
Is Tama a good dog name?
Tama has not been formally rated for calling yet. As a rule of thumb, one or two clear syllables work best for recall. With 2 syllables, it is quick to say — a practical length for recall.
Before you commit, say it out loud a few times and check it does not clash with a household name or a training cue like "sit" or "no".
Tama popularity in the Pets In The City community
Tama ranks #112 all-time in the Pets In The City community, carried by about 0.5 in every 1,000 dogs we care for (16 dogs). Its recent trend is insufficient data.
Popularity comes from anonymised, aggregated records of dogs at our 5 Auckland centres, as of 2026-08-01. It reflects our community, not a national census.
What kind of dog does Tama suit?
It is most often used for boy dogs in our community. Treat these as suggestions — plenty of dogs happily wear names that break every rule.
Dreamy Tama
Our entirely unscientific pack opinion.
As the other pups settled in for nap time, they whispered, "I hope Tama's not the type to dream too big! We need our beauty sleep, not an adventure in the clouds!"
Names similar to Tama
- Bhumi — A Sanskrit name meaning 'earth' or 'soil'.
- Bumi — Means 'earth' in Indonesian.
- Deepa — Means 'light' or 'lamp' in Sanskrit.
- Hina — Goddess of the moon in Māori mythology.
- Hoka — Meaning 'to soar' or 'to fly' in Māori.
- Kailei — A name of Hawaiian origin; associated with the sea.
- Kaka — Means 'parrot' in te reo Māori, referring to a native bird.
- Kalei — Beloved or cherished.
Collections featuring Tama
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Like Tama? Find names that fit your dog
The Dog Name Matchmaker learns your taste and picks eight names that suit your dog's character — each with a reason it fits.
Naming a new puppy?
A great name is step one. Step two is a great start: our force-free puppy training classes build confidence and recall (that new name gets a workout). New to Pets In The City? Register your dog for a temperament assessment and meet the pack.
By the numbers
- 2 syllables — quick to call
- Ranked #112 of all names in our Auckland community
- About 0.5 in every 1,000 PITC dogs are called Tama
- Meaning and pronunciation verified by our editors
- Data from 5 Auckland Pets In The City centres
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