Amare

♂ Boy

Pronounced uh-MAHR-ay /ə.ˈmɑɹ.eɪ/Medium

Meaning: One who lives a long life, one who buildsMedium

In 30 seconds: Amare is an African American boy's name carrying the sense of one who lives a long life and one who builds. It reads as both a wish for longevity and a nod to creating something lasting.

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Origin MediumAfrican American

MeaningOne who lives a long life, one who builds

U.S. rank (2024)#2071 ↘ Falling

2024 U.S. births72 boys (0.00% of U.S. boys)

Peak year2011

Total births (all-time)≈ 6,091

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

History & Origin

The name grew out of African American naming, where its meaning gathers two ideas at once: a long life and the work of building. Those layered senses give Amare a hopeful, forward-looking feel that fits its modern usage. It is best known through the spelling Amar'e, worn by basketball star Amar'e Stoudemire.

The sound is open and flowing, with the stress landing on that long middle vowel. Stoudemire's distinctive Amar'e spelling, with an apostrophe, shows how flexible the name is on the page even when the core sound stays the same.

Did you know? Amare is a spelling variant of Amari, so it keeps the same core meaning of 'one who lives a long life, one who builds' while changing the visual style.

Overall data confidence 78%

Behind the Name - Amare — etymology, usage, pronunciation, and related formsU.S. Social Security Administration — 2024 popularity rank and count supplied in the batch input CSV

Variations

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Nicknames

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Famous Bearers

★Amar'e Stoudemire (1982–present)
American-Israeli former NBA player, six-time All-Star and 2003 Rookie of the Year.

If you like Amare…

Amari— Shares the same Amar- opening and the same airy, vowel-rich rhythm as Amare.

Amir— Built on the related Amar/Amir sound and likewise a short, modern boy's name.

Amara— A close cousin in sound, trading the final vowel for a softer ending.

Frequently Asked

What does the name Amare mean?

Amare is usually explained as meaning 'one who lives a long life, one who builds' and is most often linked with African American tradition.

How do you pronounce Amare?

It's commonly said uh-MAHR-ay /ə.ˈmɑɹ.eɪ/.

Is Amare a boy or girl name?

In this batch and in recent U.S. usage data, Amare is used as a boy name.

How popular is Amare?

In 2024, Amare ranked #2071 in the U.S. for boys, with 72 births recorded.