How to say it
TA · tum
ˈteɪ.təm
Unisex
Tatum
Tata's homestead
What it means
Old English place name from Tata (a personal name) + ham ('homestead'). Originally a surname; Tatum O'Neal (the youngest competitive Oscar winner) anchored the first-name usage in the 1970s and 2000s.
Tatum is an English place name from Old English Tata (a personal name) + hām ('homestead'), giving 'Tata's homestead.' The surname has been used since the medieval period. Tatum O'Neal (the daughter of Ryan O'Neal) won Best Supporting Actress at age 10 for Paper Moon (1973), making her the youngest competitive Oscar winner ever, that brought the first name into wider US usage. Channing Tatum the actor (born 1980) keeps the surname in cultural circulation. As a first name Tatum surged in the US in the 2000s and is now firmly unisex. It's been in the US top 300 since 2003. Single short forms aren't common.
How to spell Tatum
The standard spelling is Tatum. Common variants include Tatumn, but Tatum is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
Feminine: peaked at #189 in 2025, currently #189 in 2025.
Masculine: peaked at #195 in 2024, currently #202 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
- Pop culture
Tatum O'Neal's 1973 Oscar at age 10 (Paper Moon) brought the first name into US use; Channing Tatum's career keeps the surname in circulation.
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.
- Tatum O'Neal American actress, youngest competitive Oscar winner for Paper Moon (1973)
- Channing Tatum American actor, 21 Jump Street and Magic Mike (Tatum as surname)
Spelling variants
- Tatumn
Names with the same feeling
See Tatum from another angle
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Tatum mean?
- Old English place name from Tata (a personal name) + ham ('homestead'). Originally a surname; Tatum O'Neal (the youngest competitive Oscar winner) anchored the first-name usage in the 1970s and 2000s.
- What does Tatum mean in Old English?
- In Old English, Tatum means "Tata's homestead." Tatum is an English place name from Old English Tata (a personal name) + hām ('homestead'), giving 'Tata's homestead.' The surname has been used since the medieval period. Tatum O'Neal (the daughter of Ryan O'Neal) won Best Supporting Actress at age 10 for Paper Moon (1973), making her the youngest competitive Oscar winner ever, that brought the first name into wider US usage. Channing Tatum the actor (born 1980) keeps the surname in cultural circulation. As a first name Tatum surged in the US in the 2000s and is now firmly unisex. It's been in the US top 300 since 2003. Single short forms aren't common.
- How do you pronounce Tatum?
- Tatum is pronounced ˈteɪ.təm. Say it as TA-tum, with the stress on the "ta" syllable.
- How do you spell Tatum?
- The standard spelling is Tatum. Common spelling variants include Tatumn.
- Is Tatum a boy or girl name?
- Tatum is used for both boys and girls.
- How popular is the name Tatum?
- Tatum ranked #189 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.