Fatima
/ˈfɑːtɪmə/
noun
Origin
Arabic
ف-ط-م — to wean
Overview
Meaning Now
- A female given name of Arabic origin.
- The name of the daughter of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.
Literal older meaning
one who abstains or weans
Language path
Arabic → English
Earliest form
فاطمة
Earliest period
7th century
Journey
The name Fatima holds deep significance in Islamic tradition as it is the name of Muhammad's favorite daughter. It is also a significant location in Portugal, Fátima, which became a famous site of Catholic pilgrimage following reported Marian apparitions in 1917, despite no etymological link between the Arabic name and the town's pre-existing place name history prior to the Reconquista.
Evolution
- 7th century Arabic
فاطمة
“weaning”
Original classical form.
- Medieval European
Fatima
“Female name”
Adopted through cultural contact in Spain and trade.
Connections
Word parts
Fatima
root
One who abstains or weans
Related across languages
Turkish
Fatma
Common variant of the name Fatima
Explore next
Related to Fatima
External references use DefinedTerm semantics.