UK boy's name
Oussama
A masculine Arabic name meaning "young lion" or "lion cub".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2001. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Oussama is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Oussama popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2001 in this profile. In that release it ranked #2587, with 4 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2000, with 9 births.
This profile covers 19 England and Wales registrations across 4 recorded years from 1997 to 2001. 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.
The latest count is about 44% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 19 living people in the UK are called Oussama. 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 2002 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Oussama ranked #2587 for boys in England and Wales in 2001, with 4 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2000, when 9 boys were registered as Oussama.
- • About 19 living people in the UK are estimated to have Oussama as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#2587
2001
Births in 2001
4
Latest year
Peak year
2000
9 births
Estimated living
19
2026
Meaning
What does Oussama mean?
The name Oussama has its origins in the Arabic language, tracing back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Arabic root word "sa-ma," which means "to be elevated" or "to rise high." The name is often associated with concepts of nobility, eminence, and lofty status.
In the early days of Islam, the name Oussama gained prominence due to its connection with Oussama ibn Zayd, a renowned companion of the Prophet Muhammad. Oussama was a skilled military leader who was entrusted with leading an army against the Byzantine Empire in the early 7th century.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Oussama can be found in the Qur'an, the holy book of Islam. In Surah Al-Qasas (Chapter 28, Verse 14), the name is mentioned in the context of Moses seeking guidance from a wise and knowledgeable man.
Throughout the centuries, several notable figures have borne the name Oussama. One of the most famous was Oussama ibn Munqidh (1095-1188), a Syrian poet, author, and military leader during the Crusades. His memoir, "Kitab al-I'tibar," provides valuable insights into the cultural and political landscape of the time.
Another prominent figure was Oussama al-Mulk (1030-1092), a Persian vizier and influential statesman in the Seljuk Empire. He was known for his administrative reforms and played a crucial role in the expansion of the empire's territories.
In the realm of literature, Oussama ibn Abdallah al-Qurashi (1268-1328) was a renowned Arab scholar and writer from Granada, Al-Andalus (present-day Spain). His work, "Al-Nuwayri's Nihayat al-Arab fi Funun al-Adab," is considered a valuable encyclopedic work covering various subjects.
Oussama ibn Abi Nasr al-Misri (1298-1368), an Egyptian historian and biographer, was also a notable figure who chronicled the lives of prominent scholars and literary figures of his time in his work, "Rawdat al-Janan wa Nuzhah al-Mubtadi'in wa al-Muhtadin."
In more recent history, Oussama Jamal al-Din (1925-2009) was a Syrian politician and diplomat who served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs for Syria from 1965 to 1970.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Oussama over time
The chart below shows babies named Oussama registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1997 to 2001. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Oussama, the clearest high point is 2000. The latest England and Wales figure is 4 births in 2001, compared with 9 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Oussama by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Oussama 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 | #2006 | 13 | 2 |
| 1990s | #2901 | 6 | 2 |
Related
Names similar to Oussama
- 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
Oussama: questions and answers
How popular is the name Oussama in the UK right now?
In 2001, Oussama was ranked #2587 for boys in England and Wales, with 4 births registered.
When was Oussama most popular?
The peak year on record was 2000, with 9 babies registered as Oussama in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Oussama?
A masculine Arabic name meaning "young lion" or "lion cub".
How many people are called Oussama in the UK?
A total of 19 babies have been registered as Oussama 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.