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Home › Baby Names Directory › Altamese

Altamese

♀ Girl

How to Pronounce Altamese

Pronounced al-tuh-MEES /æl.təˈmiːs/Medium

Meaning: Altamese is a vintage African-American given name whose origin is genuinely uncertain. It may draw on Artemisia (a Greek name tied to the goddess Artemis) or on place and word elements such as Altamira or 'alta' ('high'). No single route is settled, so we present it honestly rather than fix a meaning.Low

In 30 seconds: Altamese is a vintage African-American name of uncertain origin (say it al-tuh-MEES). We note the mystery honestly.
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Origin LowEnglish
MeaningAltamese is a vintage African-American given name whose origin is genuinely uncertain. It may draw on Artemisia (a Greek name tied to the goddess Artemis) or on place and word elements such as Altamira or 'alta' ('high'). No single route is settled, so we present it honestly rather than fix a meaning.
U.S. rank (1987)#11371 ↘ Falling
1987 U.S. births5 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)
Peak year1934
Total births (all-time)≈ 287

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 193419201987

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

SSA data updated May 2026. How we source & verify this data.

History & Origin

Altamese is a distinctive vintage name found chiefly in African-American families of the early and mid twentieth century. Its origin is uncertain: proposals include a reshaping of Artemisia, the Greek name honoring the goddess Artemis, or a blend drawing on 'alta,' 'high,' or place names like Altamira. Because no route is settled, we keep the meaning open. It stayed rare, cresting at only about fifteen girls a year around 1934 before fading.

An Altamese from its peak would be in her late eighties or nineties now. Its stately three-beat sound sits beside Artemisia, Almeta, and Ludie - the ornate vintage names of its cohort - and it reads as firmly antique. We flag the uncertain origin rather than invent one.

Did you know? Altamese is one of those early-century names carried faithfully through Black American families for generations even though its original source has never been firmly pinned down.
Overall data confidence 25%
References - Altamese — Vintage African-American name; origin uncertain

Variations

AltamesaArtemesiaAlmeta

Nicknames

AltaMeese

Famous Bearers

  • Famous bearers coming soon.

If you like Altamese…

Artemisia— a name Altamese may be reshaped from
Almeta— a like ornate vintage girl name
Ludie— another antique girl name of the cohort
Altha— a same-era Alt- girl name in sound

Explore names like Altamese

By themeuncertainvintageafrican-americanantique

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Frequently Asked

What does the name Altamese mean?

Altamese has an uncertain origin; it may draw on Artemisia or on elements like 'alta,' 'high.' We note the uncertainty rather than fix a meaning.

How do you pronounce Altamese?

It is commonly said al-tuh-MEES, three syllables with the stress on the last.

Is Altamese a boy or a girl name?

Altamese is a girl's name.

Is Altamese a popular name?

No. Altamese has always been rare, reaching its quiet best around nineteen-thirty-four before fading.

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