How to say it
FA · ti · ma
ˈfɑː.tɪ.mə
Feminine
Fatima
One who abstains
What it means
Arabic, 'one who weans' or 'abstains,' traditionally read as a mark of self-restraint.
Fatima is Arabic for 'one who weans' or 'abstains.' It is among the most honored names in Islam, borne by Fatima, the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad and a revered figure across the Muslim world. It carries a second, Catholic resonance through the Portuguese town of Fátima, a major Marian pilgrimage site. That dual heritage gives it unusual cross-cultural reach. Fati and Tima are gentle shorts.
How to spell Fatima
The standard spelling is Fatima. Common variants include Fatimah, Fatma, Fattima, but Fatima is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #227 in 2001, currently #330 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Worth knowing
Deeply honored across Muslim communities as the Prophet Muhammad's daughter; the shrine at Fátima adds a Catholic layer.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Fatima daughter of the Prophet Muhammad, one of Islam's most revered women
Spelling variants
- Fatimah
- Fatma
- Fattima
Names with the same feeling
Common questions
- What does the name Fatima mean?
- Arabic, 'one who weans' or 'abstains,' traditionally read as a mark of self-restraint.
- What does Fatima mean in Arabic?
- In Arabic, Fatima means "One who abstains." Fatima is Arabic for 'one who weans' or 'abstains.' It is among the most honored names in Islam, borne by Fatima, the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad and a revered figure across the Muslim world. It carries a second, Catholic resonance through the Portuguese town of Fátima, a major Marian pilgrimage site. That dual heritage gives it unusual cross-cultural reach. Fati and Tima are gentle shorts.
- How do you pronounce Fatima?
- Fatima is pronounced ˈfɑː.tɪ.mə. Say it as FA-ti-ma, with the stress on the "fa" syllable.
- How do you spell Fatima?
- The standard spelling is Fatima. Common spelling variants include Fatimah, Fatma, Fattima.
- Is Fatima a boy or girl name?
- Fatima is traditionally a feminine name.
- How popular is the name Fatima?
- Fatima ranked #330 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.