UK name, mostly girls
Tatum
A feminine name deriving from an Old English surname meaning "great or prosperous estate holder".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2022. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Also recorded as a boys' name in the UK, with 84 boys.
Tatum is mostly registered for girls in the UK records. People looking for Tatum popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2022 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5669, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2005, with 18 births.
This profile covers 236 England and Wales registrations across 26 recorded years from 1996 to 2022. 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 17% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 235 living people in the UK are called Tatum. 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 2023 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Tatum ranked #5669 for girls in England and Wales in 2022, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2005, when 18 girls were registered as Tatum.
- • Tatum is also recorded for boys, but the girls side is the larger UK variant in these records.
- • About 235 living people in the UK are estimated to have Tatum as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
- • Across the England and Wales records shown here, 73.8% of Tatum registrations are for girls.
Latest rank (E&W)
#5669
2022
Births in 2022
3
Latest year
Peak year
2005
18 births
Estimated living
235
2026
Gender
Boy and girl registrations for Tatum
In England and Wales birth records, Tatum has been registered for both boys and girls. Across the years shown here, 26.3% of registrations are for boys and 73.8% are for girls.
These figures use the sex categories in the published baby-name files. They are useful for spotting how the name is used at registration, but they are not a live measure of gender identity or everyone living with the name today.
Tatum registered for boys
- Ranked #1,322 in 2024
- 20 boys registered in 2024
- Peak: 2024 (20 births)
Tatum registered for girls
- Ranked #5,669 in 2022
- 3 girls registered in 2022
- Peak: 2005 (18 births)
Meaning
What does Tatum mean?
The name Tatum is an English surname that has been adopted as a given name in more recent times. It is believed to have originated from the Old English word "tun," meaning an enclosure or a town. This name was often used as a locational surname, referring to someone who lived in a particular town or village.
Historically, the name Tatum can be traced back to the 13th century in England, where it was primarily used as a surname. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273, where it is listed as "de Tatum."
While the name Tatum does not have any direct references in ancient texts or religious scriptures, it has been used as a given name by several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest known examples is Tatum O'Neal, an American actress born in 1963, who won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress at the age of 10 for her role in the film "Paper Moon."
Another famous bearer of the name Tatum is Channing Tatum, an American actor and producer born in 1980. He is known for his roles in various films, including "Step Up," "Magic Mike," and "21 Jump Street." His full name, Channing Matthew Tatum, reflects the use of Tatum as a surname.
In the world of sports, Tatum O'Neal, a former professional basketball player born in 1981, played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for several teams, including the Milwaukee Bucks and the Golden State Warriors.
Tatum Bell, born in 1981, is a former American football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL) for teams like the Denver Broncos and the Detroit Lions.
Another noteworthy individual with the name Tatum is Tatum Hunter, an American actress and model born in 1990, known for her roles in various television shows and films.
These examples demonstrate the diverse backgrounds and professions of individuals who have carried the name Tatum throughout history, reflecting its transition from a surname to a given name in more recent times.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Tatum over time
The chart below compares boys and girls registered as Tatum in England and Wales, 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 Tatum, the clearest high point is 2005. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2022, compared with 18 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Tatum by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Tatum 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 | #5265 | 10 | 3 |
| 2010s | #3772 | 60 | 9 |
| 2000s | #1820 | 125 | 10 |
| 1990s | #1697 | 41 | 4 |
Related
Names similar to Tatum
- Tia 15,569
- Thea 12,888
- Tilly 11,524
- Taylor 7,401
- Tegan 6,583
- Tabitha 6,462
- Talia 5,198
- Tara 5,114
- Tiffany 4,653
- Tallulah 4,442
- Tiana 3,570
- Tamara 3,405
FAQ
Tatum: questions and answers
How popular is the name Tatum in the UK right now?
In 2022, Tatum was ranked #5669 for girls in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Tatum most popular?
The peak year on record was 2005, with 18 babies registered as Tatum in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Tatum?
A feminine name deriving from an Old English surname meaning "great or prosperous estate holder".
How many people are called Tatum in the UK?
A total of 236 babies have been registered as Tatum across the 26 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.