Tatum is a distinctive girls' name in United States, ranking #549 in 1997 with 430 recorded births. The name reached its all-time peak in 2025 with 1,661 births ranking #189. Since 1996, the popularity has increased by 111.8%. In 1997, approximately 1 in every 4,048 girls born was named Tatum. RISING Recent data shows the name is currently rising.
Tatum comes from an English surname that ultimately meant "Tata's homestead" in Old English. It is a surname-style first name with a clearly modern rise in popularity.
The name first gained public attention through actress Tatum O'Neal and later got another boost from a character in Scream. That mix of surname style and pop culture helped it become established for both girls and boys.