What Does the Name Tatum Mean?
Tatum comes from an Old English place name meaning "Tata's homestead" or "Tata's enclosure," combining the personal name Tata with tun, meaning a farmstead or settlement.
The Origin & History of Tatum
Like many English surnames tied to specific villages, Tatum moved from a family name into first-name use in the 20th century. Actress Tatum O'Neal, who won an Academy Award at age 10 for Paper Moon, helped establish it as a given name for girls; more recently it has grown for boys too.
Cultural Reach
Tatum stands out as a genuinely unisex name in current US data, used at a comparable rate for both boys and girls -- a rarer balance than most surname-style names achieve.
Famous People Named Tatum
Notable bearers include Tatum O'Neal, the American actress and youngest competitive Academy Award winner in history, and Jayson Tatum, the NBA All-Star forward for the Boston Celtics (as a surname).
Nicknames & Variations
Tate is a common short form. Tatem is an occasional alternate spelling.
Is Tatum a Good Name in 2026?
Tatum continues to grow for both boys and girls, valued as a crisp, modern surname-name with genuine unisex appeal.