Tatum
Meaning of Tatum
Tatum began as an Old English place-surname—roughly “Tata’s homestead”—and over time it hopped the Atlantic, shed its postcode, and settled into life as a breezy, unisex first name. The Oscar-winning sparkle of child star Tatum O’Neal in the 1970s put it on parents’ radar, and the easy charm of actor Channing Tatum has helped keep it shining, nudging the name from just a handful of U.S. births in the mid-’60s to nearly 1,500 little Tatums in 2024. Sitting in that sweet spot between familiar and fresh, Tatum carries the same upbeat vibe as its cousin Tate, so many hear an echo of “brings joy” in its two crisp syllables. It’s a name that feels equally at home on a skateboard, a stage, or a corporate doorplate, offering a child room to roam and reinvent. With built-in nicknames like Tay or Tate and a friendly, forward-leaning sound, Tatum delivers a gentle nod to Anglo roots while promising plenty of modern adventure.
Pronunciation
English
- Pronunced as TAY-tum (/teɪˈtɑm/)
U.S. Popularity Chart
States Popularity Chart
Notable People Named Tatum
| American actress Tatum Beatrice O'Neal became the youngest ever competitive Academy Award winner at age 10 for Paper Moon opposite her father Ryan O'Neal and later starred in The Bad News Bears, Nickelodeon, Little Darlings and on Sex and the City, 8 Simple Rules, and Law and Order Criminal Intent. |
| Tatum Stewart is an Australian field hockey player. |
