UK boy's name
Wissam
Of Semitic origin meaning "mark" or "beauty spot".
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.
Wissam is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Wissam 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 2018, with 7 births.
This profile covers 54 England and Wales registrations across 13 recorded years from 1998 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 43% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 54 living people in the UK are called Wissam. 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
- • Wissam ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2018, when 7 boys were registered as Wissam.
- • About 54 living people in the UK are estimated to have Wissam 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
2018
7 births
Estimated living
54
2026
Meaning
What does Wissam mean?
The name Wissam originates from the Arabic language and culture. It is derived from the Arabic word "wasama" which means "to mark" or "to brand". The name can be traced back to the 7th century AD, during the rise of Islam and the spread of the Arabic language across the Middle East and North Africa.
Wissam is a masculine name that was historically given to boys in Arabic-speaking regions. It was particularly popular among the nomadic Arab tribes of the Arabian Peninsula, who used branding as a way to mark their livestock and identify ownership. The name may have been chosen to represent strength, determination, or a sense of belonging.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Wissam can be found in ancient Arabic poetry and literature from the 8th century AD. The name appears in various works of poetry, describing the bravery and courage of warriors and tribal leaders who bore this name.
Throughout history, several notable figures have carried the name Wissam. One of the earliest was Wissam ibn Zayd (720-796 AD), a renowned Arabic poet and scholar from Basra, in present-day Iraq. He was known for his contributions to early Islamic literature and his mastery of the Arabic language.
Another prominent figure was Wissam al-Hadrami (1181-1258 AD), a Sufi mystic and scholar from Hadramaut, Yemen. He was widely respected for his spiritual teachings and his writings on Islamic mysticism, which had a significant influence on the development of Sufism in the region.
In the modern era, Wissam Mounir (1952-2018) was a celebrated Egyptian actor and comedian. He was renowned for his portrayal of various comedic roles in Egyptian films and television series, and his ability to capture the nuances of everyday life with humor and wit.
Wissam Al-Husseini (born 1962) is a prominent Jordanian businessman and philanthropist. He has made significant contributions to the development of the private sector in Jordan and has been involved in various charitable initiatives, particularly in the fields of education and healthcare.
Wissam Ben Yedder (born 1990) is a French professional footballer who plays as a striker for the French national team and the Spanish club Sevilla FC. He has had a successful career in European football, playing for various clubs in France, Spain, and Portugal.
These are just a few examples of notable individuals throughout history who have carried the name Wissam. While the name has its roots in Arabic culture, it has transcended geographical boundaries and continues to be used across various communities and cultures around the world.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Wissam over time
The chart below shows babies named Wissam registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1998 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 Wissam, the clearest high point is 2018. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2024, compared with 7 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Wissam by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Wissam 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 | #3914 | 23 | 5 |
| 2010s | #3902 | 22 | 5 |
| 2000s | #4193 | 6 | 2 |
| 1990s | #2901 | 3 | 1 |
Related
Names similar to Wissam
- William 117,982
- Wilfred 5,302
- Will 3,185
- Warren 2,787
- Wyatt 2,604
- Wesley 2,513
- Woody 1,951
- Walter 1,918
- Wiktor 1,354
- Wayne 979
- Wilbur 975
- Wade 902
FAQ
Wissam: questions and answers
How popular is the name Wissam in the UK right now?
In 2024, Wissam was ranked #5119 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Wissam most popular?
The peak year on record was 2018, with 7 babies registered as Wissam in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Wissam?
Of Semitic origin meaning "mark" or "beauty spot".
How many people are called Wissam in the UK?
A total of 54 babies have been registered as Wissam across the 13 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.