NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Hossein

A masculine Arabic name meaning "beautiful" or "little handsome one".

For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.

Hossein is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Hossein popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #3254, with 6 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2024, with 6 births.

This profile covers 12 England and Wales registrations across 3 recorded years from 2016 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.

Hossein is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.

We estimate that about 12 living people in the UK are called Hossein. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2025 or 2026.

Key insights

  • Hossein ranked #3254 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 6 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2024, when 6 boys were registered as Hossein.
  • About 12 living people in the UK are estimated to have Hossein as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#3254

2024

Births in 2024

6

Latest year

Peak year

2024

6 births

Estimated living

12

2026

Meaning

What does Hossein mean?

The name Hossein originates from the Arabic language and culture. It is a variant of the name Husayn, which can be traced back to the 7th century CE. The name is derived from the Arabic word "husn," meaning beauty or goodness.

Historically, the name Hossein holds significant importance in Islamic tradition. It is the name of the grandson of Prophet Muhammad and the son of Ali ibn Abi Talib and Fatimah, the daughter of the Prophet. Hossein played a crucial role in the early days of Islam and is revered as a martyr by Shia Muslims.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Hossein can be found in the Qur'an, where it is mentioned in reference to Hossein ibn Ali, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad. The name also appears in various Islamic texts and historical accounts, such as the Nahj al-Balagha, a collection of sermons, letters, and sayings attributed to Ali ibn Abi Talib.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Hossein. One of the most famous was Hossein ibn Ali (626-680 CE), the grandson of Prophet Muhammad, who was martyred in the Battle of Karbala. Another prominent figure was Hossein Bayqara (1438-1506 CE), a Timurid ruler and poet from present-day Uzbekistan.

Hossein Kazemzadeh Iranshahri (1884-1962) was an Iranian statesman and diplomat who served as the Prime Minister of Iran from 1940 to 1941. Hossein Khosrow Panah (1913-1951) was an Iranian poet and author known for his contributions to Persian literature.

Hossein Meraat (1923-1987) was an Iranian film director and screenwriter who played a significant role in the development of Iranian cinema. Hossein Mokhtari (1928-2018) was an Iranian painter and calligrapher renowned for his depictions of Islamic art and architecture.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who have borne the name Hossein, illustrating its deep roots and significance in Arabic and Islamic culture.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Hossein over time

The chart below shows babies named Hossein registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2016 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.

For Hossein, the clearest high point is 2024. The latest England and Wales figure is 6 births in 2024, compared with 6 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Hossein
02356201620202024

Decades

Hossein by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Hossein was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.

Decade Average rank Total births Years covered
2020s #3254 6 1
2010s #4811 6 2

Related

Names similar to Hossein

FAQ

Hossein: questions and answers

How popular is the name Hossein in the UK right now?

In 2024, Hossein was ranked #3254 for boys in England and Wales, with 6 births registered.

When was Hossein most popular?

The peak year on record was 2024, with 6 babies registered as Hossein in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Hossein?

A masculine Arabic name meaning "beautiful" or "little handsome one".

How many people are called Hossein in the UK?

A total of 12 babies have been registered as Hossein across the 3 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.

Which records is this page based on?

The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.