UK girl's name
Fatuma
A feminine Arabic name meaning "a weaner of infants".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2018. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Fatuma is a girl's name in the UK records. People looking for Fatuma popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2018 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5666, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2006, with 6 births.
This profile covers 71 England and Wales registrations across 17 recorded years from 1996 to 2018. 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 50% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 71 living people in the UK are called Fatuma. 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 2019 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Fatuma ranked #5666 for girls in England and Wales in 2018, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2006, when 6 girls were registered as Fatuma.
- • About 71 living people in the UK are estimated to have Fatuma as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5666
2018
Births in 2018
3
Latest year
Peak year
2006
6 births
Estimated living
71
2026
Meaning
What does Fatuma mean?
The name Fatuma has its origins in the Arabic language and Islamic culture. It is a feminine form of the name Fatih, derived from the Arabic root word "fataha," which means "to open" or "to conquer." The name is believed to have emerged in the 7th century during the era of the Islamic conquests and the spread of the religion across the Arabian Peninsula and beyond.
Fatuma is also closely linked to the name Fatimah, which was the name of one of the daughters of the Prophet Muhammad. Fatimah, who lived from 605 to 632 CE, was revered for her piety, intelligence, and devotion to her faith. Her name is often used as a source of inspiration and a symbol of virtue within the Islamic tradition.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Fatuma can be found in the Quran, the central religious text of Islam. In Surah 28, verse 76, the name is mentioned in the context of a parable about wealth and humility.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the name Fatuma. One such person was Fatuma Massaquoi, a Liberian educator and activist who lived from 1912 to 1978. She played a significant role in promoting women's education and empowerment in her country.
Another prominent figure was Fatuma Zahra, an 18th-century Sudanese poet and scholar. She was renowned for her contributions to Arabic literature and her expertise in various fields, including theology, law, and linguistics.
In the 19th century, Fatuma bint Said bin Sultan Al-Said was the daughter of the Sultan of Oman and Zanzibar. She played a crucial role in the political and social affairs of the region during her lifetime, which spanned from 1823 to 1878.
Fatuma Mernissi, a Moroccan sociologist and writer, was also a notable figure who lived from 1940 to 2015. She was a pioneering feminist scholar and an influential voice in the study of gender and Islam.
Lastly, Fatuma Diarra, a Malian singer and songwriter, has made significant contributions to the world of music. Born in 1950, she has been celebrated for her captivating voice and her efforts in preserving the traditional music of Mali.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Fatuma over time
The chart below shows babies named Fatuma registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2018. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Fatuma, the clearest high point is 2006. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2018, compared with 6 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Fatuma by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Fatuma 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010s | #5434 | 17 | 5 |
| 2000s | #3794 | 36 | 8 |
| 1990s | #2946 | 18 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Fatuma
- 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
Fatuma: questions and answers
How popular is the name Fatuma in the UK right now?
In 2018, Fatuma was ranked #5666 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Fatuma most popular?
The peak year on record was 2006, with 6 babies registered as Fatuma in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Fatuma?
A feminine Arabic name meaning "a weaner of infants".
How many people are called Fatuma in the UK?
A total of 71 babies have been registered as Fatuma across the 17 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.