
The short answer
Fatima is a feminine name used in Arabic and Urdu. Behind the Name describes it this way: "Derived from Arabic فطم (faṭama) meaning ‘to abstain, to wean’. Fatima was a daughter of the Prophet Muhammad and the wife of Ali, the fourth caliph." It ranked #330 for girls in the United States in 2025.
Meaning and etymology
According to Behind the Name, derived from Arabic فطم (faṭama) meaning ‘to abstain, to wean’. Fatima was a daughter of the Prophet Muhammad and the wife of Ali, the fourth caliph. The entry lists its usage as Arabic, Urdu, Bosnian, Kyrgyz and others.
Editorial confidence: established
Popularity
Fatima ranked #330 for girls in the United States in 2025. The figure comes from the Social Security Administration's national file for that year.
| Region | Year | Rank | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 2025 | #330 | ssa-2025 |
If you like this name
Names that Behind the Name files under the same origin (Arabic) and that sit near Fatima in the 2025 American rankings.
Similar by origin
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Fatima mean?
Fatima means "to abstain, to wean", according to Behind the Name.
Is Fatima a popular name?
Fatima ranked #330 for girls in the United States in 2025. (Social Security Administration data).
Is Fatima a boy's or a girl's name?
In the 2025 SSA data Fatima appears in the girls' list; Behind the Name labels it feminine.
Sources
- Behind the Name: Meaning, origin and history of the name Fatima — supports meaning, usage, pronunciation, variants.
- U.S. Social Security Administration: Popular Baby Names — national data, year of birth 2025 — supports popularity.