Osama
Boy name · Arabic · Italian · Latin
Meaninglion · Arabic
- US rank
- #5,208
- Syllables
- 3
- Peak
- #1,642 in 1999
18 babies were named Osama in the US in 2025. It has climbed 3,531 places in five years.
Found on lists
Save adds it to your list. Vote moves it up the top voted names.
US births per million boys, 1968–2025
Similar names
Popularity: U.S. Social Security Administration (babies with 5+ births per year).
Did you know?
A few things about Osama you might not know, from US birth records and Wikipedia. Handy for convincing a partner, or a grandparent.
Famous Osama
Osama Hawsawi
Saudi Arabian footballer
Choose Osama and your child shares a first name with Osama Hawsawi, a Saudi Arabian footballer. A ready-made answer when someone asks “Osama, like who?” Osama Hawsawi's Wikipedia article is available in 35 languages, a good sign of just how widely known they are.
Read about Osama Hawsawi on Wikipedia (opens in a new tab)Photo: Hussain Isa Alderazi, CC BY 2.0 (opens in a new tab), via Wikimedia Commons
- How commonAbout 1 in every 95,238 baby boys born in the US in 2025 was named Osama, 18 babies in all. In a typical school of 500 kids, your Osama would very likely be the only one.
- HistoryOsama first shows up in US birth records in 1968, the first year at least 5 babies got it. It has been in use for 57 years since.
- Best yearIt was far more popular in 1999, when it ranked #1,642. Today it's #5,208, so it could be due a comeback.
- Then vs nowOsama was 2.6× more common in 2000 than it is today. In 2000 it was given to about 1 in 36,364 baby boys; in 2025, about 1 in 95,238.
- TrendOsama has climbed 3,531 places in the US rankings over the last five years and now sits at #5,208. Fast risers like this often keep climbing, so expect to hear it more.
- MeaningIn Arabic, Osama means “lion”. Our records link it to Arabic, Italian and Latin roots.
About the name Osama
Osama is a boy name of Arabic, Italian and Latin origin meaning “lion”. It has 5 letters and 3 syllables, starting with O and ending in “-ama”. US birth records list Osama for boys from 1968 to 2025, in 52 of those 58 years. Its best year was 1999, when it ranked #1,642 among boy names. In 2025 it ranked #5,208, with 18 babies.
Origin:Arabic namesItalian namesLatin names
| Decade | Babies per million | About 1 in |
|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.8 | 571,429 boys |
| 1970s | 3.9 | 257,732 boys |
| 1980s | 9.8 | 102,459 boys |
| 1990s | 22 | 46,318 boys |
| 2000s | 7.0 | 143,472 boys |
| 2010s | 5.1 | 194,553 boys |
| 2020s | 7.5 | 134,228 boys |
More Arabic boy names
- Boy name: Caleb · dog, faithful
- Boy name: Silas · of the forest
- Boy name: Aaron · possibly exalted
- Boy name: Xavier · new house
- Boy name: Jasper · treasurer
- Boy name: Malcolm · devotee of Saint Columba
- Unisex name: Cairo · the victorious
- Boy name: Ibrahim · father of many
Questions about the name Osama
What does the name Osama mean?
Osama means “lion” in Arabic.
What is the origin of the name Osama?
Osama has Arabic, Italian, Latin roots in our records. Other Arabic names include Caleb, Silas, Aaron.
Is Osama a boy or girl name?
Osama is a boy name.
How popular is the name Osama?
Osama ranked #5,208 for US boys in 2025, given to 18 babies. Its best year was 1999 (#1,642).