Fatou

♀ Girl

Pronounced fah-TOO /fɑˈtuː/High

Meaning: West African (especially Wolof and Mandinka) form of Fatima, from Arabic fatama meaning to wean or abstain.High

In 30 seconds: Fatou is a melodious West African name that serves as the local form of the beloved Arabic name Fatima. It is widely used in Senegal, Gambia, Guinea, and Mali, and is deeply connected to Islamic devotional naming traditions.

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Origin HighArabic, West African, Wolof

MeaningWest African (especially Wolof and Mandinka) form of Fatima, from Arabic fatama meaning to wean or abstain.

U.S. rank (2024)#2975 ↗ Rising

2024 U.S. births55 girls (0.00% of U.S. girls)

Peak year2024

Total births (all-time)≈ 1,167

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

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

History & Origin

Fatou is the Wolof and broader West African adaptation of the Arabic name Fatima (فاطمة), which derives from the root *fatama*, meaning to wean a child. The original bearer, Fatima bint Muhammad, was the Prophet's daughter and a central figure in Islamic history.

Across Senegal, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, and Mali, Fatou is extraordinarily common — in Senegal it is among the most given names to girls each year. As West African diaspora communities have grown in Europe and North America, Fatou has traveled with them, appearing on birth registers in France, Italy, and increasingly the United States.

Did you know? Fatima, the source of Fatou, was the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad and is one of the most revered women in Islam — making Fatou one of the most common girls' names across West Africa.

Overall data confidence 92%

Behind the Name — Fatou — Etymology and usageEncyclopedia of Islam — Fatima — Historical background on the name's source figure

Variations

FatimaFatuFatoumataFatouma

Nicknames

FaTou

Famous Bearers

★Fatou Bensouda (1961–present)
Gambian lawyer who served as Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court from 2012 to 2021.

If you like Fatou…

Fatima— The Arabic original from which Fatou derives

Fatoumata— Extended West African elaboration of the same root

Aminata— Common West African Muslim girls name of similar cultural register

Mariama— Popular West African form of Mary, similar devotional tradition

Kadiatou— Guinean variant of Khadija, similar Islamic naming pattern

Frequently Asked

What does the name Fatou mean?

Fatou means weaning or one who abstains, deriving from the Arabic root fatama. It is the West African form of Fatima, the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad.

How do you pronounce Fatou?

Fatou is pronounced fah-TOO, with stress on the second syllable: /fɑˈtuː/.

Is Fatou a boy or girl name?

Fatou is a girl's name used across West Africa, especially in Senegal, Gambia, and Guinea.

How popular is Fatou?

Fatou is one of the most popular girls' names in Senegal and the Gambia. It is less common in English-speaking countries but known in French-speaking communities and diaspora populations.