Title says it all! I never thought I would consider a unisex name, but I am beginning to consider the name [name]Tatum[/name] in new light. My husband is a huge fan of jazz music and plays jazz piano and [name]Art[/name] [name]Tatum[/name] is one of the great jazz piano legends.
Thanks for your thoughts!
There are plenty of actual unisex names out there, and I’m sure there’s one similar to [name]Tatum[/name]. Personally, [name]Tatum[/name] doesn’t seem feminine enough; all I can think of is Drederick [name]Tatum[/name] from The Simpsons. (who was a parody of [name]Mike[/name] [name]Tyson[/name]) Why not go with a similar name like [name]Tatyana[/name]?
On the other hand, [name]Tatum[/name] to me is really feminine because of [name]Tatum[/name] O’[name]Neil[/name] : D. I think it’s really cute! My only thought is that if you thought you’d neve consider a unisex name, then would you be OK with her sister having a more feminine name if you ever have another daughter? If not, can you find other unisex names you like so they match?
This might be a great middle name option to you if you start to think it’s not quite right It’d be great to honor the jazz piano connection, and I think its meaning relates to happiness, which is great (if I’m right).
All best!
Thanks for the feedback, valkyrie and jesba! I never thought about the sibling/sister issue. That is important to consider. What girl names have a similar feel to [name]Tatum[/name]?
I go straight to [name]Channing[/name] [name]Tatum[/name] when I think of this name, so it is all boy to me. Maybe as an MN for a girl, but not for an FN in my opinion Good [name]Luck[/name] 
I’m not really a fan of it, personally–it has a very masculine feel to me, due to the easily available nn [name]Tate[/name]. I know of a very cute little girl named [name]Tatum[/name] [name]Reese[/name], but that hasn’t really made the name any better for me.
I think really anything unisex would fit with [name]Tatum[/name]–[name]Reese[/name], [name]Avery[/name], and [name]Emerson[/name] were the first ideas to come to mind.
I’m not usually a fan of unisex names but I like [name]Tatum[/name]. I think it has a sweetness and spunkiness to it which many unisex names can’t pull off. Actress [name]Tatum[/name] O’[name]Neal[/name] is the first association that comes to mind. It’s important to keep in mind that what you name your first child will often determine what style of name any future children are given. Personally, I wouldn’t have a super feminine and frilly name for [name]Tatum[/name]'s sister. I think [name]Paige[/name], [name]Hope[/name], [name]Hadley[/name], [name]Avery[/name], [name]Ellery[/name] and [name]Darcy[/name] would be her “natural” siblings. You may be able to call a second daughter a no-frills kind of name like [name]Grace[/name], [name]Claire[/name] or [name]Margot[/name] too!
I really like the name [name]Tatum[/name]. To me it is completely feminine. I don’t think you would necessarily have to choose a unisex name for a second daughter. Go with [name]Tatum[/name]!
I think [name]Tatum[/name] is adorable! Sure, it’s unisex, but I tend to think of it as feminine, or as a surname. I don’t know any males with the first name [name]Tatum[/name]. As far as siblings go I could easily see [name]Margo[/name], [name]Grace[/name], [name]Hadley[/name], [name]Hope[/name], [name]Ellery[/name], or [name]Claire[/name] as [name]Mischa[/name] suggested. Or [name]Reese[/name], [name]Belle[/name], [name]Georgia[/name], [name]Charlotte[/name], [name]Harper[/name], [name]Ivy[/name], [name]Brynn[/name]…
I’m not generally a fan of unisex names for girls and this is one that I’m definitely not crazy about. It seems more masculine to me than most.
I went to school with a girl named [name]Tatum[/name]. She didn’t seem to have a problem with her name and she was never picked on for it, so I say go for it! It could definitely work. I like it.
I really don’t care for it as a first name. It doesn’t appeal to me and seems overly masculine, but the deep-down reason, which I really hate to admit because it’s terrible is this: inexplicably, it makes me think of tater-tot potatoes! I know, I know, it’s awful!! Very cool when you know the jazz connection though, and I think it would make a fantastic middle name.
I really like the name [name]Tatum[/name]! While I guess it can be unisex, I haven’t come across any boys named that. I immediately associate the name with a girl. I think it’s a strong, classic, feminine and not so common name. I’d go for it!
Go for it, [name]Tatum[/name] is so cute and also spunky when she is older!
Thanks for all the feedback! I guess this is a love it or hate it kind of name. You definitely gave me a lot to think about! Now to run it by my husband. If he doesn’t love it then that will be the end of it because I thought of the name mostly for the jazz connection for him. His favorite boy’s name is [name]Coltrane[/name] after the jazz saxophonist [name]John[/name] [name]Coltrane[/name]. :rolleyes:
I actually dance with an eleven-year-old girl whose middle name is [name]Tatum[/name]. I think it must have been her mother’s maiden name, but I think it’s really cute. Her first name is [name]Katelyn[/name].
I wasn’t too big on the name, but I do know a little girl named [name]Tatum[/name] and she is such a cutie. It’s amazing what actually knowing someone with a certain name can do for your opinion of it. I do agree with pp that if you don’t like unisex names, it might be harder to name a [name]Tatum[/name]'s future sister. I don’t really get that caught up in matching sibsets, but I did immediately think of another post I read on here quite awhile ago about sisters named [name]Carter[/name] and [name]Felicity[/name], which just seems unfair to me. If you do go with [name]Tatum[/name], I think it would be good to at least make sure there are at least some other non-frilly girl names out there that you like. I do like the connection to her dad though. Maybe you could find some more inspiration in this list of 100 greatest jazz pianists: 100 Greatest Jazz Pianists
I love unisex names, mostly for boys. [name]Tatum[/name] is one of the few, along with [name]Morgan[/name] and [name]Sloane[/name], that I actually like for girls! It has a special place in my heart because I was friends with a girl named [name]Tatum[/name] in high school and she changed my life. It was a hard time for me and she is probably one of the best people I’ve ever met. Full of joy and life. I know nameberry lists the meaning as “[name]Tate[/name]'s homestead”, but babynames.com lists it as “[name]Cheerful[/name] and full of spirit”. I like this more, because the girl I knew embodied this meaning. All in all, I love it.
Ugh! [name]Tatum[/name] O’[name]Neil[/name]. [name]Don[/name]'t like it at all.
[name]Tatum[/name] is super cute! I’m a big fan of unisex names though.