Tama is a unisex given name of Japanese origin, meaning 'gem' or 'jewel'. It is composed of two kanji characters: 宝 (ta), meaning treasure or jewel, and 麻 (ma), meaning hemp. The name is often associated with the moon, as it can also be read as 玉 ('tama'), which means ball or gemstone, and has been used in reference to the moon goddess Tsukuyomi. Tama was particularly popular among girls during the Edo period but has since become more gender-neutral. It is often found in Japanese literature, such as in Natsume Sōseki's novel "Botchan," where it is the name of a cat.
The name Tama saw a slight increase in usage from 2012 to 2018, with a total of 13 babies named Tama born during this period.