This post contains affiliate links.
At a Glance
- Meaning
- One who abstains or weans (from the root f-t-m)
- Origin
- Arabic
- Gender
- Girl
- Pronunciation
- FAH-tih-muh
Fatima is an Arabic name for a girl, pronounced FAH-tih-muh. It comes from the root f-t-m, 'to wean,' and is traditionally read as 'one who abstains or weans.' You may see it translated as 'captivating one,' but the Arabic root doesn't support that reading. It has a worldly, classic feel that has stayed timeless.
Meaning & Origin of Fatima
Meaning: One who abstains or weans (from the root f-t-m).
Origin: Arabic.
A common claim: captivating one Actually: Not supported by the Arabic root; Fatima derives from f-t-m ('to wean'), traditionally read as 'one who abstains/is weaned' (e.g. from hellfire), not 'captivating.'
Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.
How to Pronounce Fatima
FAH-tih-muhIPA /ˈfɑːtɪmə/
Popularity of Fatima
Fatima peaked at #227 in 2001, when 1,407 girls were given the name. In 2024 it ranked #316, with 972 babies, so it remains a steady, familiar choice.
Names Like Fatima
These names share Fatima’s style, era or origin.
FAQ
What does the name Fatima mean?
One who abstains or weans (from the root f-t-m). (Source: Wiktionary)
How do you pronounce Fatima?
Fatima is pronounced FAH-tih-muh (IPA: /ˈfɑːtɪmə/).
Is Fatima a popular name right now?
Fatima peaked at #227 in 2001 and is ranked #316 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1919–2024.)
Make Fatima Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Fatima, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
📊 How popular is Fatima? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
🎲 Think you know your baby names? Take the quiz!
📱 The Baby Names app is here
Swipe names, match with your partner the moment you both say yes, and claim a free Name Art print of your winner. Free to download. See all our apps →




