Fatima

One who weans a child.

Fatima is an Arabic feminine name whose literal meaning is “one who weans a child.” The wording describes the woman who ends breastfeeding, rather than the child who has been weaned. That everyday linguistic origin sits alongside a much larger religious significance. The name is closely associated with Fatima, daughter of the Prophet Muhammad and wife of Ali. For someone drawn to a name with a clear connection to Islamic heritage, this association is likely to matter more than the literal definition. In Arabic, فاطمة is pronounced with three syllables, a long opening a and an emphatic ṭ: /ˈfaː.tˤi.ma/. The initial stretch gives the name a measured, substantial sound, while the final ma adds warmth. Fatimah is another Latin spelling of the Arabic name. The accented form Fátima also has a Christian naming tradition through the Portuguese pilgrimage town. The Arabic name and that later place-based association explain why similar spellings can carry different family or religious connections.

Etymology: From Arabic فَطَمَ (faṭama), “to wean” or “to separate”; فاطمة is the feminine active form.