UK boy's name
Ossama
An Arabic name meaning "brave", "bold" or "lion".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2000. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Ossama is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Ossama popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2000 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1889, with 6 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2000, with 6 births.
This profile covers 18 England and Wales registrations across 4 recorded years from 1996 to 2000. 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.
Ossama is at its recorded peak in the England and Wales series.
We estimate that about 18 living people in the UK are called Ossama. 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 2001 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Ossama ranked #1889 for boys in England and Wales in 2000, with 6 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2000, when 6 boys were registered as Ossama.
- • About 18 living people in the UK are estimated to have Ossama as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#1889
2000
Births in 2000
6
Latest year
Peak year
2000
6 births
Estimated living
18
2026
Meaning
What does Ossama mean?
The name Ossama is derived from the Arabic word "sama", which means "loftiness" or "elevation". Its origins can be traced back to the ancient Semitic languages spoken in the Middle East and North Africa, with variations of the name appearing in various cultures and time periods.
In the Arabic language, the name Ossama is often associated with qualities such as nobility, grandeur, and eminence. It has been a popular choice for parents seeking to bestow these attributes upon their children.
The earliest recorded use of the name Ossama can be found in ancient Arabic literature and historical texts. One notable example is Ossama ibn Zayd, a companion of the Islamic prophet Muhammad who lived in the 7th century CE. He was a renowned military leader and is revered in Islamic history for his bravery and loyalty.
Another prominent figure bearing the name Ossama was Ossama ibn Munqidh, a 12th-century Arab author, poet, and diplomat from Syria. His memoir, "Kitab al-I'tibar" (The Book of Learning by Example), provides valuable insights into the political and social climate of the Crusades era.
In the realm of Islamic scholarship, Ossama ibn Abi Nasr al-Isfahani, born in the 9th century CE, was a renowned scholar and author of the influential work "Kitab al-Aghani" (The Book of Songs), a comprehensive compendium of Arabic poetry and musical heritage.
During the Mamluk Sultanate of Egypt and Syria (1250-1517 CE), Ossama ibn Muhammad al-Nabulsi was a celebrated Islamic scholar and Sufi mystic known for his contributions to Islamic jurisprudence and spiritual teachings.
In more recent times, Ossama Antar was an Egyptian novelist and playwright who lived from 1910 to 1976. His works, such as "The Deliverance" and "The Sentry", explored themes of social injustice and the struggles of the working class in Egypt.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who have borne the name Ossama, each leaving their mark in various fields, from military leadership and literature to scholarship and the arts.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Ossama over time
The chart below shows babies named Ossama registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2000. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Ossama, the clearest high point is 2000. The latest England and Wales figure is 6 births in 2000, compared with 6 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Ossama by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Ossama 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000s | #1889 | 6 | 1 |
| 1990s | #2460 | 12 | 3 |
Related
Names similar to Ossama
- Oliver 157,197
- Oscar 67,495
- Owen 33,517
- Ollie 13,193
- Oakley 9,838
- Omar 6,823
- Otis 6,395
- Oskar 4,827
- Olly 4,403
- Otto 3,839
- Osian 3,145
- Owain 2,310
FAQ
Ossama: questions and answers
How popular is the name Ossama in the UK right now?
In 2000, Ossama was ranked #1889 for boys in England and Wales, with 6 births registered.
When was Ossama most popular?
The peak year on record was 2000, with 6 babies registered as Ossama in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Ossama?
An Arabic name meaning "brave", "bold" or "lion".
How many people are called Ossama in the UK?
A total of 18 babies have been registered as Ossama across the 4 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.