Tatum Unisex

Popularity: #181 · Trend: ↗ Rising

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: TAY-tum /ˈteɪ.təm/

Origin: English; Irish

Meaning: English: cheerful; Irish: surname derived from 'Tate'

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Tatum has its roots in Old English, derived from the elements "ta" meaning "cheerful" or "bringer of joy" and "tum" which is related to the word for "town" or "settlement." This etymological foundation suggests a meaning akin to "cheerful town" or "joyful settlement." The name evolved through various forms, with its earliest usages appearing in medieval England, where surnames often derived from place names or geographical features. Over time, Tatum transitioned from a surname into a given name, particularly in the 20th century, reflecting a broader trend of using surnames as first names in English-speaking cultures.

Historically, the name Tatum is not widely documented in ancient texts or significant historical figures, which makes its milestones less prominent compared to other names. However, the surname Tatum can be traced back to England, where it was used in various records throughout the Middle Ages.

The name gained some recognition through notable individuals in the 19th and 20th centuries, contributing to its eventual adoption as a first name. The name's presence in literature and popular culture has also played a role in its recognition, although specific works or figures are less frequently cited.

Culturally, Tatum carries connotations of joy and community, aligning with its etymological roots. The name's cheerful meaning has contributed to its appeal, as names associated with positive attributes often resonate well across generations.

The diminutive form "Tate" has also emerged, providing a more casual alternative while maintaining the essence of the original name. Overall, Tatum reflects a blend of historical significance and cultural resonance, embodying a sense of happiness and belonging.

Famous people named Tatum

In this section, you will find notable people named Tatum. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Tatum who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Tatum who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Tatum O'Neal is an actress best known for Paper Moon, The Bad News Bears, and Little Darlings.

Tatum Channing is an actor and producer best known for Magic Mike, 21 Jump Street, and Step Up.

Fictional characters named Tatum

The following list of fictional characters named Tatum is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Tatum is a fictional character from the film Scream. She is a high school student and one of the main characters who becomes a victim of the Ghostface killer.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Tatum, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

MasonAverySophieLiamEllaGrayson

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Tatum. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

TaliaTaylorTessaTaraTaliahTamaraTansy

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Tatum was first seen in the United States in 1966.

Tatum has ranked as high as #180 nationally, which occurred in 2025, and has been most popular in Texas, California, Arizona, Ohio, and Georgia.

In the past 5 years the name Tatum has been trending up compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Tatum is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Tatum was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Tatum.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 3,397 1,736 1,661
2024 3,343 1,841 1,502
2023 2,823 1,504 1,319
2022 2,214 1,058 1,156
2021 1,974 837 1,137
2020 1,501 598 903
2019 1,478 596 882
2018 1,273 529 744
2017 1,170 457 713
2016 1,192 417 775
2015 1,256 473 783
2014 1,299 465 834
2013 1,473 487 986
2012 1,372 422 950
2011 1,242 314 928
2010 1,266 301 965
2009 935 139 796
2008 1,019 134 885
2007 1,138 147 991
2006 1,058 108 950
2005 1,006 91 915
2004 885 71 814
2003 832 44 788
2002 791 39 752
2001 733 37 696
2000 718 43 675
1999 688 41 647
1998 717 28 689
1997 449 19 430
1996 230 27 203
1995 197 13 184
1994 209 20 189
1993 187 15 172
1992 136 8 128
1991 126 9 117
1990 109 11 98
1989 85 6 79
1988 76 0 76
1987 94 8 86
1986 106 7 99
1985 68 9 59
1984 62 6 56
1983 60 5 55
1982 53 0 53
1981 68 8 60
1980 121 21 100
1979 86 6 80
1978 118 11 107
1977 116 16 100
1976 88 10 78
1975 101 10 91
1974 97 14 83
1973 34 9 25
1966 5 0 5

Top States for Tatum (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
TX 315
10%
CA 206
6%
FL 165
5%
OH 158
5%
NC 138
4%
TN 133
4%
GA 124
4%
IN 108
3%
KY 97
3%
MI 97
3%
IL 97
3%
MO 97
3%
VA 92
3%
PA 88
3%
NY 85
3%
LA 78
2%
AZ 76
2%
AL 75
2%
WA 71
2%
WI 70
2%
SC 63
2%
OK 59
2%
MN 59
2%
UT 57
2%
MD 55
2%
CO 54
2%
MA 52
2%
AR 48
1%
MS 48
1%
IA 47
1%
NJ 40
1%
KS 39
1%
ID 32
1%
OR 31
1%
NE 29
1%
WV 28
1%
ND 25
1%
NV 24
1%
CT 24
1%
ME 22
1%
MT 19
1%
SD 17
1%
HI 15
0%
NM 13
0%
RI 10
0%
DE 8
0%
NH 6
0%