Fun Facts About the Name Oussama
- 11 babies named Oussama: U.S. records list 11 babies given the name Oussama from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Oussama Mean?
Oussama is a romanized spelling of the Arabic name Usāma (أسامة), which means "lion." Classical Arabic dictionaries list أسامة among the words used for the lion, a set that also includes asad (أسد) and layth (ليث). أسامة is a distinct noun, not a form of asad; Arabic lexicographers treat it as a name for the animal in its own right.
The word's derivation from an Arabic verb root is not settled. One traditional explanation links it to the root أ س م, which carries senses of grief or misfortune, while other treatments simply record أسامة as a noun for the lion without agreeing on a root. The meaning "lion" is the one dictionaries and Arabic speakers give; the root connection remains the uncertain part.
Oussama is not a separate name with its own etymology but one of several transliterations of Usāma. English-based systems usually write the same name as Osama or Usama, while Oussama reflects French spelling conventions: ou for the vowel /u/ and ss for the sound /s/.
Oussama Name History & Origins
Usāma is a long-established Arabic given name, not a modern coinage. It was borne by Usama ibn Zayd, the son of Zayd ibn Haritha and a companion of the Prophet Muhammad, whom Muhammad appointed to command an expedition toward Syria while still a young man. Another well-documented bearer was Usama ibn Munqidh (1095 - 1188), the prince of Shayzar in Syria, a poet and warrior whose memoir Kitab al-I'tibar describes his experiences during the Crusades.
The spelling Oussama belongs to the French-influenced transliteration tradition that is standard in the Maghreb - Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia - where Arabic names are commonly written with French letter values. In that system the name's initial vowel is written ou and its s is doubled as ss, giving Oussama. English and other romanization systems render the identical Arabic name differently, which is why the same name appears as Osama, Usama, or Osamma depending on where it is written down.
How Popular is the Name Oussama?
Oussama has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 1997. Its best rank was #8,965 in 1997.
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 | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #13,385 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1997 | #8,965 | 6 | 0.0003% |
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 Oussama 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.
Position and social status is very important for you and you are always looking for way to improve your position in society. You have power and ability to chose your own destiny and achieve anything you want in life. You can expand in any direction according to your will and the set of values. You have passion for justice and belong to the position of authority. You have an inherent courage and endurance to accomplish "The Impossible Dream". With the power comes responsibility. You hold keys to the material world, but with this gift comes high spiritual responsibility to be fair and true to others. You are philosophical and mature, determined and intense with a desire to endure, often religious.
✦ Oussama's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Oussama's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.