UK girl's name
Fathima
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "the bright one" or "the shining one".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Fathima is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Fathima popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2253, with 12 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2007, with 47 births.
This profile covers 706 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 26% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 702 living people in the UK are called Fathima. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Fathima ranked #2253 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 12 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2007, when 47 girls were registered as Fathima.
- • About 702 living people in the UK are estimated to have Fathima as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2253
2024
Births in 2024
12
Latest year
Peak year
2007
47 births
Estimated living
702
2026
Meaning
What does Fathima mean?
The name Fathima has its origins in the Arabic language and is believed to have emerged during the 7th century. It is derived from the root word "fatama," which means "to wean" or "to separate." This name is closely associated with the Islamic faith and is revered as the name of one of the most significant figures in Islamic history.
The name Fathima is primarily connected to Fatima al-Zahra, the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad and his first wife, Khadijah. She is regarded as one of the four perfect women in Islam and is highly respected by Muslims worldwide. Fatima al-Zahra was born in Mecca around 615 CE and passed away in Medina in 632 CE.
Historically, the name Fathima has been mentioned in various Islamic texts and traditions, including the Quran and the hadith (sayings of the Prophet Muhammad). These texts highlight the virtues and exemplary character of Fatima al-Zahra, making her a role model for Muslim women throughout the ages.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Fathima can be found in the writings of Islamic scholars and historians from the 7th and 8th centuries, who documented the life and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad and his family.
Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Fathima. One such individual was Fathima Bint Mubarak Al-Lawatiya (c. 1192 - 1288 CE), a renowned Sufi scholar and poet from present-day Tunisia. Another notable Fathima was Fathima al-Fihri (c. 800 - 880 CE), who founded the University of Al-Qarawiyyin in Fez, Morocco, which is considered the oldest continuously operating university in the world.
In the Indian subcontinent, the name Fathima gained popularity after the arrival of Islam. One of the most famous historical figures with this name was Fathima Begum (1541 - 1604), who was the daughter of the Mughal Emperor Humayun and the wife of Prince Hussain Mirza.
Another notable figure was Fathima Shirin (1631 - 1668), a Persian princess and the chief consort of the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. Her tomb, known as the Shahi Begum Mosque, is a renowned architectural marvel located in Aurangabad, India.
The name Fathima has also been carried by various other historical personalities, including scholars, poets, and rulers, across different regions and time periods, reflecting its widespread acceptance and significance within the Islamic tradition.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Fathima over time
The chart below shows babies named Fathima registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Fathima, the clearest high point is 2007. The latest England and Wales figure is 12 births in 2024, compared with 47 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Fathima by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Fathima was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #2036 | 69 | 5 |
| 2010s | #1203 | 300 | 10 |
| 2000s | #972 | 284 | 10 |
| 1990s | #1431 | 53 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Fathima
- Freya 50,564
- Florence 32,908
- Francesca 18,752
- Faith 14,325
- Fatima 11,112
- Faye 8,999
- Felicity 8,554
- Frankie 6,977
- Ffion 6,115
- Flora 3,499
- Frances 3,417
- Fatimah 3,065
FAQ
Fathima: questions and answers
How popular is the name Fathima in the UK right now?
In 2024, Fathima was ranked #2253 for girls in England and Wales, with 12 births registered.
When was Fathima most popular?
The peak year on record was 2007, with 47 babies registered as Fathima in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Fathima?
A feminine name of Arabic origin meaning "the bright one" or "the shining one".
How many people are called Fathima in the UK?
A total of 706 babies have been registered as Fathima across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.