NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Usmaan

A masculine Arabic name meaning "little one" or "cub".

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.

Usmaan is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Usmaan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #5119, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 1999, with 37 births.

This profile covers 476 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 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.

The latest count is about 8% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 472 living people in the UK are called Usmaan. 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

  • Usmaan ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 1999, when 37 boys were registered as Usmaan.
  • About 472 living people in the UK are estimated to have Usmaan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#5119

2024

Births in 2024

3

Latest year

Peak year

1999

37 births

Estimated living

472

2026

Meaning

What does Usmaan mean?

The name Usmaan has its origins in the Arabic language and is derived from the root word "سمع" (sama'a), which means "to hear" or "to listen." It is a variant spelling of the more common Arabic name Uthman.

In the 7th century CE, during the early years of Islam, Usmaan was the name of the third Caliph of the Muslim world, Uthman ibn Affan. He was a close companion of the Prophet Muhammad and played a crucial role in the compilation and preservation of the Quran, the holy book of Islam. Uthman ibn Affan ruled from 644 to 656 CE and his reign was marked by the expansion of the Islamic Empire into modern-day Iran, Armenia, and parts of North Africa.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Usmaan can be found in the writings of medieval Arab scholars and historians who documented the life and achievements of Uthman ibn Affan. The name also appears in various Islamic texts and historical records from that period.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Usmaan. Osman I (1258-1326) was the founder and the first Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, which ruled over a vast territory spanning from Southeast Europe to the Middle East for over six centuries. Usmaan Dan Fodio (1754-1817) was a prominent Islamic scholar, revolutionary, and founder of the Sokoto Caliphate in present-day Nigeria.

Other famous individuals with the name Usmaan include Usmaan bin Affan (574-656), the third Caliph of the Rashidun Caliphate; Usmaan Ibn Munqidh (1095-1188), a famous Arab poet and warrior from Syria; and Usmaan Ibn Fudi (1754-1817), a renowned Islamic scholar and the founder of the Sokoto Caliphate in present-day Nigeria.

The name Usmaan has been popular among Muslim communities worldwide, particularly in the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of South Asia. Its enduring legacy stems from its association with the revered Caliph Uthman ibn Affan and the historical significance of preserving the Holy Quran during his reign.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Usmaan over time

The chart below shows babies named Usmaan 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 Usmaan, the clearest high point is 1999. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 37 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Usmaan
09192837199620102024

Decades

Usmaan by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Usmaan 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 #3122 34 5
2010s #2278 96 10
2000s #1046 233 10
1990s #640 113 4

Related

Names similar to Usmaan

FAQ

Usmaan: questions and answers

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

In 2024, Usmaan was ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.

When was Usmaan most popular?

The peak year on record was 1999, with 37 babies registered as Usmaan in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Usmaan?

A masculine Arabic name meaning "little one" or "cub".

How many people are called Usmaan in the UK?

A total of 476 babies have been registered as Usmaan across the 29 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.