Tatum is an English surname and place name meaning "Tata's homestead", from an Old English personal name and ham, a home. Actress Tatum O'Neal, the youngest Oscar winner ever, introduced it as a girl's name in the 1970s. Tatum has been in the US top 1000 for girls since 2000, when it ranked number 420; it has climbed steadily from number 409 in 2015 to number 189 in 2025, its highest position so far, and is used for boys as well.