UK girl's name
Fatimah
A feminine Arabic name meaning "the one who abstains" or "the weaner".
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.
Fatimah is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Fatimah popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #363, with 120 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2017, with 184 births.
This profile covers 3,065 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, 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 65% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 3,133 living people in the UK are called Fatimah. 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
- • Fatimah ranked #363 for girls in England and Wales in 2024, with 120 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2017, when 184 girls were registered as Fatimah.
- • Fatimah ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #384 in 2024.
- • About 3,133 living people in the UK are estimated to have Fatimah as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#363
2024
Births in 2024
120
Latest year
Peak year
2017
184 births
Estimated living
3,133
2026
Meaning
What does Fatimah mean?
The name Fatimah is derived from the Arabic word "fatama," which means "to be weaned." The name has been in use since the 7th century CE and originates from the Arabic culture and language.
Fatimah is a highly revered name in Islam, as it was the name of the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad. She was born in Mecca around 615 CE and was known for her piety, intelligence, and generosity. Fatimah is considered to be one of the most important figures in Islamic history and is regarded as a role model for Muslim women.
The name Fatimah first appeared in religious texts, such as the Quran and Hadith, which are the primary sources of Islamic teachings. In these texts, Fatimah is described as a virtuous and righteous woman who played a significant role in the early days of Islam.
One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Fatimah can be found in the writings of Islamic scholars and historians from the 7th and 8th centuries CE. These writings provide detailed accounts of Fatimah's life and her contributions to the Islamic faith.
Throughout history, several notable women have borne the name Fatimah. One of the most famous was Fatimah al-Zahra (615-632 CE), the daughter of Prophet Muhammad and wife of Ali ibn Abi Talib, the fourth caliph of Islam. She is revered as a symbol of purity and righteousness in Islamic tradition.
Another notable Fatimah was Fatimah al-Batoul (605-632 CE), the sister of Ali ibn Abi Talib and a prominent figure in early Islamic history. She was known for her devotion to Islam and her support of her brother's cause.
Fatimah bint Muhammad al-Arabi (1165-1240 CE) was a renowned Sufi mystic and poet from Spain. Her writings, which focused on spiritual enlightenment and the love of God, were influential in the development of Sufi literature.
Fatimah Jinnah (1893-1967) was a Pakistani politician and diplomat who played a crucial role in the independence movement of Pakistan. She was known as the "Mother of the Nation" and was a strong advocate for women's rights and education.
Fatimah Mernissi (1940-2015) was a Moroccan feminist writer and sociologist who wrote extensively on the role of women in Islamic societies. Her works, such as "Beyond the Veil" and "The Forgotten Queens of Islam," challenged traditional interpretations of Islam and advocated for greater gender equality.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Fatimah over time
The chart below shows babies named Fatimah 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 Fatimah, the clearest high point is 2017. The latest England and Wales figure is 120 births in 2024, compared with 184 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Fatimah by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Fatimah 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 | #340 | 658 | 5 |
| 2010s | #335 | 1,426 | 10 |
| 2000s | #454 | 822 | 10 |
| 1990s | #654 | 159 | 4 |
Geography
Where Fatimah is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Fatimah. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Fatimah ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #384 in 2024.
Across the UK
Fatimah in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#384 in 2024
18 years of NRS records, 84 total registered
Related
Names similar to Fatimah
- 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
- Fern 2,925
FAQ
Fatimah: questions and answers
How popular is the name Fatimah in the UK right now?
In 2024, Fatimah was ranked #363 for girls in England and Wales, with 120 births registered.
When was Fatimah most popular?
The peak year on record was 2017, with 184 babies registered as Fatimah in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Fatimah?
A feminine Arabic name meaning "the one who abstains" or "the weaner".
How many people are called Fatimah in the UK?
A total of 3,065 babies have been registered as Fatimah across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 84 more in Scotland.
Where is Fatimah most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Fatimah ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #384 in 2024. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
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.