NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Osman

A Turkish name derived from the Arabic name 'Uthman', meaning "prosperous" or "wealthy".

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.

Osman is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Osman popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #514, with 76 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2021, with 91 births.

This profile covers 1,182 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, 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.

The latest count is about 84% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 1,194 living people in the UK are called Osman. 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

  • Osman ranked #514 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 76 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2021, when 91 boys were registered as Osman.
  • Osman ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #619 in 2024.
  • About 1,194 living people in the UK are estimated to have Osman as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#514

2024

Births in 2024

76

Latest year

Peak year

2021

91 births

Estimated living

1,194

2026

Meaning

What does Osman mean?

The name Osman finds its origin in the Arabic language and is derived from the word "Asama," which means "lion" or "brave." It emerged during the early Islamic period and has been widely used across various cultures influenced by Islam.

The name Osman gained particular significance in Ottoman history, as it was the name of the founder of the Ottoman Empire, Osman I, who ruled from 1299 to 1326. His reign marked the beginning of the Ottoman Dynasty, which went on to establish one of the most powerful empires in the world.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Osman can be found in the Quran, the holy book of Islam, where it is mentioned as the name of a prophet. This association with a prophetic figure contributed to the name's widespread acceptance among Muslims.

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the name Osman. One of the most famous was Osman Ghazi (1258-1326), also known as Osman I, the founder of the Ottoman Empire. Another prominent figure was Osman II (1604-1622), the 16th Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, who reigned from 1618 to 1622.

In the realm of literature, Osman Agha (1833-1900) was a renowned Turkish author and poet who made significant contributions to the Ottoman literary tradition. His works, such as "Divan-ı Nadire," were widely celebrated.

In the modern era, Osman Nuhu Sharubutu (1919-2005) was a prominent Ghanaian Muslim leader who served as the National Chief Imam of Ghana from 1993 until his death. He played a crucial role in promoting interfaith dialogue and religious harmony in the country.

Osman Ahmed Osman (1932-1992) was an Egyptian novelist and playwright whose works explored social and political themes in Egypt. His novel "The Confessions of a Minor Twin" gained international acclaim and was translated into several languages.

These are just a few examples of the many notable figures throughout history who have carried the name Osman, reflecting its cultural significance and enduring legacy across various regions and time periods.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Osman over time

The chart below shows babies named Osman registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 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 Osman, the clearest high point is 2021. The latest England and Wales figure is 76 births in 2024, compared with 91 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Osman
023466891199620102024

Decades

Osman by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Osman 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 #482 414 5
2010s #802 401 10
2000s #866 260 10
1990s #650 107 4

Geography

Where Osman is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Osman. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.

Osman ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #619 in 2024.

Scotland
4

Across the UK

Osman in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#619 in 2024

6 years of NRS records, 20 total registered

Notable bearers

Famous people named Osman

  • Osman Rashid

    businessperson

    American businessman

    1970-

  • Osman Jessop

    cricketer

    cricketer (1878-1941)

    1878-1941

  • Osman Edwards

    translator

    British playwright and theatre critic

    1864-1936

  • Osman Ricardo

    politician

    politician

    1795-1881

  • Osman Parke Vincent

    Anglican priest

    English cleric 1816-1885,

    ?-1885

Related

Names similar to Osman

FAQ

Osman: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Osman was ranked #514 for boys in England and Wales, with 76 births registered.

When was Osman most popular?

The peak year on record was 2021, with 91 babies registered as Osman in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Osman?

A Turkish name derived from the Arabic name 'Uthman', meaning "prosperous" or "wealthy".

How many people are called Osman in the UK?

A total of 1,182 babies have been registered as Osman across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 20 more in Scotland.

Where is Osman most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Osman ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #619 in 2024. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.

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.