Fun Facts About the Name Omar
- More than 106 thousand babies named Omar: U.S. records list 106,889 babies given the name Omar from 1880 through 2025. Even 456 girls received the name Omar - about 1 girl for every 233 boys.
What Does the Name Omar Mean?
Omar is the common English spelling of the Arabic given name ʿUmar (عمر). It belongs to the Arabic root ʿ-M-R, which concerns life and duration. The noun ʿumr means "life" or "lifespan," and the verb ʿamara carries senses such as "to live long," "to flourish," and "to build up" or "to inhabit." The name is therefore usually explained as "flourishing" or "long-lived."
Arabic writing normally leaves short vowels unwritten, and English spelling drops the opening ʿayn (the consonant written ʿ), so "Omar" preserves only part of the Arabic form. Other transliterations in use include Umar and Omer; Turkish uses Ömer. Some popular name lists gloss Omar as "eloquent," but the Arabic dictionaries connect the name to the life-and-flourishing root rather than to speech.
Omar Name History & Origins
Names formed from the root ʿ-M-R, including ʿUmar, were in use among Arabic-speaking peoples before Islam. The name belongs to the same Arabic vocabulary as ʿumr (life) and ʿimārah (building, settlement), and classical Arabic writers discussed its derivation from the verb ʿamara.
The name has been borne by prominent figures in Islamic history from the 7th century onward. ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb, a companion of Muhammad, became the second caliph and ruled from 634 to 644; Muslim historical tradition remembers his administration and legal decisions in detail. Another caliph, ʿUmar ibn ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz (Umar II), ruled from 717 to 720. As Arabic spread through trade, scholarship, and conquest, the name was adopted into Persian, Turkish, Urdu, Swahili, and other languages of Muslim communities.
In Persian, the name appears in ʿUmar Khayyām (1048 - 1131), the poet, mathematician, and astronomer of Nishapur. Edward FitzGerald's 1859 English rendering of the Rubáiyát made "Omar" a familiar name to English-language readers, centuries after the name was already established in Arabic and other Muslim societies. Later bearers include Omar Saidou Tall, the 19th-century Tukulor leader in West Africa, and Omar al-Mukhtar, who led resistance in Libya in the early 20th century.
The English spelling "Omar" is not related to the Hebrew name Omer, which means "sheaf" and comes from a different root.
How Popular is the Name Omar?
Omar recorded its highest annual U.S. birth count in 2007. Its best rank was #131 in 2006.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | #18,445 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2014 | #18,541 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2010 | #19,115 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2008 | #19,719 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2007 | #15,073 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2006 | #12,172 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2004 | #10,496 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2003 | #12,111 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2002 | #14,928 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2001 | #13,122 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2000 | #11,512 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1999 | #12,319 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1997 | #13,284 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1996 | #11,458 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1995 | #5,381 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1994 | #5,180 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1993 | #6,934 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1992 | #4,809 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 1991 | #6,170 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1990 | #6,751 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 1989 | #5,762 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 1988 | #6,560 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1987 | #5,246 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1986 | #4,894 | 16 | 0.0009% |
| 1985 | #8,087 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1984 | #7,232 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1983 | #5,711 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1982 | #5,794 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1981 | #4,668 | 16 | 0.0010% |
| 1980 | #5,450 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1979 | #4,552 | 16 | 0.0010% |
| 1978 | #5,125 | 13 | 0.0008% |
| 1977 | #4,185 | 17 | 0.0011% |
| 1976 | #4,099 | 16 | 0.0011% |
| 1975 | #4,078 | 16 | 0.0011% |
| 1974 | #6,097 | 9 | 0.0006% |
| 1973 | #4,762 | 12 | 0.0008% |
| 1971 | #5,027 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1970 | #7,709 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1967 | #5,877 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1942 | #5,181 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1929 | #4,452 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #260 | 1,333 | 0.0780% |
| 2024 | #260 | 1,343 | 0.0783% |
| 2023 | #263 | 1,311 | 0.0767% |
| 2022 | #243 | 1,453 | 0.0833% |
| 2021 | #267 | 1,304 | 0.0746% |
| 2020 | #254 | 1,386 | 0.0803% |
| 2019 | #246 | 1,485 | 0.0828% |
| 2018 | #241 | 1,582 | 0.0871% |
| 2017 | #232 | 1,642 | 0.0887% |
| 2016 | #223 | 1,734 | 0.0914% |
| 2015 | #217 | 1,836 | 0.0958% |
| 2014 | #214 | 1,807 | 0.0941% |
| 2013 | #204 | 1,882 | 0.0995% |
| 2012 | #199 | 1,921 | 0.1013% |
| 2011 | #193 | 1,886 | 0.0993% |
| 2010 | #175 | 2,167 | 0.1130% |
| 2009 | #154 | 2,548 | 0.1285% |
| 2008 | #144 | 2,864 | 0.1404% |
| 2007 | #131 | 3,216 | 0.1550% |
| 2006 | #131 | 3,105 | 0.1511% |
| 2005 | #135 | 2,967 | 0.1486% |
| 2004 | #148 | 2,725 | 0.1373% |
| 2003 | #151 | 2,705 | 0.1369% |
| 2002 | #151 | 2,622 | 0.1351% |
| 2001 | #146 | 2,723 | 0.1402% |
| 2000 | #146 | 2,687 | 0.1368% |
| 1999 | #143 | 2,671 | 0.1391% |
| 1998 | #146 | 2,452 | 0.1283% |
| 1997 | #154 | 2,291 | 0.1215% |
| 1996 | #140 | 2,518 | 0.1329% |
| 1995 | #139 | 2,506 | 0.1316% |
| 1994 | #146 | 2,419 | 0.1252% |
| 1993 | #140 | 2,453 | 0.1251% |
| 1992 | #144 | 2,306 | 0.1155% |
| 1991 | #149 | 2,135 | 0.1057% |
| 1990 | #158 | 1,978 | 0.0963% |
| 1989 | #182 | 1,631 | 0.0815% |
| 1988 | #192 | 1,426 | 0.0745% |
| 1987 | #201 | 1,287 | 0.0689% |
| 1986 | #194 | 1,312 | 0.0712% |
| 1985 | #199 | 1,217 | 0.0658% |
| 1984 | #193 | 1,271 | 0.0704% |
| 1983 | #192 | 1,274 | 0.0711% |
| 1982 | #183 | 1,385 | 0.0763% |
| 1981 | #174 | 1,434 | 0.0801% |
| 1980 | #170 | 1,445 | 0.0810% |
| 1979 | #173 | 1,381 | 0.0802% |
| 1978 | #181 | 1,293 | 0.0787% |
| 1977 | #193 | 1,226 | 0.0746% |
| 1976 | #198 | 1,137 | 0.0725% |
| 1975 | #230 | 892 | 0.0571% |
| 1974 | #249 | 809 | 0.0514% |
| 1973 | #250 | 786 | 0.0504% |
| 1972 | #288 | 645 | 0.0398% |
| 1971 | #345 | 536 | 0.0303% |
| 1970 | #345 | 552 | 0.0297% |
| 1969 | #370 | 448 | 0.0251% |
| 1968 | #432 | 316 | 0.0182% |
| 1967 | #480 | 247 | 0.0142% |
| 1966 | #541 | 200 | 0.0112% |
| 1965 | #621 | 150 | 0.0081% |
| 1964 | #659 | 139 | 0.0070% |
| 1963 | #729 | 116 | 0.0057% |
| 1962 | #737 | 109 | 0.0053% |
| 1961 | #716 | 115 | 0.0054% |
| 1960 | #783 | 96 | 0.0045% |
| 1959 | #805 | 91 | 0.0043% |
| 1958 | #818 | 85 | 0.0040% |
| 1957 | #859 | 77 | 0.0036% |
| 1956 | #828 | 82 | 0.0039% |
| 1955 | #914 | 67 | 0.0033% |
| 1954 | #828 | 77 | 0.0038% |
| 1953 | #862 | 70 | 0.0035% |
| 1952 | #892 | 63 | 0.0032% |
| 1951 | #890 | 63 | 0.0033% |
| 1950 | #862 | 64 | 0.0036% |
| 1949 | #862 | 64 | 0.0036% |
| 1948 | #942 | 55 | 0.0031% |
| 1947 | #1,047 | 48 | 0.0026% |
| 1946 | #930 | 52 | 0.0032% |
| 1945 | #937 | 48 | 0.0036% |
| 1944 | #970 | 45 | 0.0033% |
| 1943 | #1,033 | 43 | 0.0030% |
| 1942 | #1,084 | 40 | 0.0029% |
| 1941 | #924 | 48 | 0.0039% |
| 1940 | #990 | 43 | 0.0037% |
| 1939 | #1,047 | 38 | 0.0034% |
| 1938 | #1,089 | 36 | 0.0032% |
| 1937 | #864 | 51 | 0.0048% |
| 1936 | #937 | 44 | 0.0042% |
| 1935 | #801 | 60 | 0.0058% |
| 1934 | #907 | 49 | 0.0047% |
| 1933 | #779 | 62 | 0.0063% |
| 1932 | #777 | 67 | 0.0064% |
| 1931 | #970 | 47 | 0.0045% |
| 1930 | #807 | 65 | 0.0059% |
| 1929 | #824 | 63 | 0.0059% |
| 1928 | #731 | 78 | 0.0070% |
| 1927 | #741 | 79 | 0.0070% |
| 1926 | #773 | 71 | 0.0064% |
| 1925 | #677 | 90 | 0.0081% |
| 1924 | #713 | 86 | 0.0076% |
| 1923 | #727 | 81 | 0.0074% |
| 1922 | #735 | 81 | 0.0074% |
| 1921 | #662 | 96 | 0.0087% |
| 1920 | #683 | 88 | 0.0083% |
| 1919 | #557 | 116 | 0.0118% |
| 1918 | #584 | 109 | 0.0108% |
| 1917 | #673 | 80 | 0.0086% |
| 1916 | #610 | 92 | 0.0103% |
| 1915 | #704 | 70 | 0.0082% |
| 1914 | #663 | 59 | 0.0090% |
| 1913 | #613 | 52 | 0.0101% |
| 1912 | #633 | 44 | 0.0102% |
| 1911 | #701 | 21 | 0.0093% |
| 1910 | #917 | 13 | 0.0067% |
| 1909 | #795 | 14 | 0.0085% |
| 1908 | #930 | 10 | 0.0065% |
| 1907 | #691 | 15 | 0.0102% |
| 1906 | #742 | 12 | 0.0090% |
| 1905 | #608 | 16 | 0.0121% |
| 1904 | #941 | 8 | 0.0062% |
| 1903 | #589 | 15 | 0.0126% |
| 1902 | #908 | 8 | 0.0065% |
| 1901 | #835 | 8 | 0.0075% |
| 1900 | #888 | 10 | 0.0066% |
| 1899 | #469 | 17 | 0.0160% |
| 1898 | #653 | 12 | 0.0098% |
| 1897 | #451 | 19 | 0.0169% |
| 1896 | #710 | 11 | 0.0092% |
| 1895 | #424 | 22 | 0.0187% |
| 1894 | #713 | 10 | 0.0086% |
| 1893 | #528 | 14 | 0.0125% |
| 1892 | #514 | 16 | 0.0131% |
| 1891 | #1,083 | 5 | 0.0049% |
| 1890 | #478 | 16 | 0.0144% |
| 1889 | #613 | 11 | 0.0099% |
| 1888 | #438 | 19 | 0.0157% |
| 1887 | #620 | 10 | 0.0099% |
| 1886 | #502 | 14 | 0.0126% |
| 1885 | #495 | 15 | 0.0139% |
| 1884 | #941 | 6 | 0.0052% |
| 1883 | #512 | 13 | 0.0124% |
| 1882 | #598 | 11 | 0.0097% |
| 1881 | #554 | 11 | 0.0109% |
| 1880 | #496 | 14 | 0.0127% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Omar Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are patient, persevering and strong willed. You are a good student, absorbing knowledge easily and retaining it well. You are either a saint or a sinner. You tend to hold things inside and suffer in silence. You are frank, methodical and believe in law, system and order.
You are always looking for an opportunity to achieve financial and emotional security. You are basically peacemaker. You understand the law of harmony and desire to balance your life with those around you. You may feel incomplete without someone to share your love, ideals, wealth or work. You can be very sensitive and could appear a bit shy and perceptive. You have developed intuition, patience and the ability to nurture others. You can achieve the state of happiness if you are willing to accept your needs in a complimentary relationship and go to create them.
✦ Omar's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Omar's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.