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Tatum

♀ Girl

Pronounced TAY-tum /ˈteɪ.təm/High

Meaning: Tate's homestead; from Old English tāt (Tate, a personal name) + hām (home, settlement)High

In 30 seconds: An Old English surname meaning 'Tate's homestead,' made famous by Oscar-winning actress Tatum O'Neal. It has risen as a modern girls' name with a strong, sporty two-syllable sound.
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Origin HighOld English
MeaningTate's homestead; from Old English tāt (Tate, a personal name) + hām (home, settlement)
Peak year2007
Total births (all-time)≈ 19,317

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 200719662017

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

History & Origin

Tatum is an English surname derived from the Old English place name consisting of a personal name Tāta or Tāt (a form of Tate) and hām ('homestead'). It therefore means 'Tate's homestead.' As a given name it entered the United States primarily through actress Tatum O'Neal, after her Academy Award-winning performance in 1974.

Tatum has been used as both a boys' and girls' name in the United States, but it has been rising faster as a girls' name in the 21st century. It entered the top 200 girls' names in the 2010s, fitting neatly into the modern fashion for two-syllable surname names that feel strong yet feminine.

Did you know? Tatum O'Neal (b. 1963) became the youngest competitive Academy Award winner in history when she won Best Supporting Actress at age 10 for Paper Moon (1974).

Variations

TaytumTatym

Nicknames

TateTay

Famous Bearers

  • ★Tatum O'Neal (b. 1963)
    American actress and youngest competitive Academy Award winner in history, for <em>Paper Moon</em> (1974).

If you like Tatum…

Sutton— Old English surname-first-name rising on the same girls' trend
Peyton— English surname name crossing over to girls in the same era
Hadley— similarly styled two-syllable English surname for girls
Quinn— short, strong gender-neutral name in the same modern category

Frequently Asked

What does the name Tatum mean?

Tatum is an Old English surname meaning 'Tate's homestead,' from the personal name Tate and hām (home).

How do you pronounce Tatum?

Tatum is pronounced TAY-tum (/ˈteɪ.təm/) — two syllables with stress on the first.

Is Tatum a boy or girl name?

Tatum is used for both sexes but is now predominantly a girl's name in the United States.

How popular is Tatum?

Tatum has been climbing the U.S. girls' charts since the 2010s and is now in the top 200.