Fun Facts About the Name Usama
- 176 babies named Usama: U.S. records list 176 babies given the name Usama from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Usama Mean?
Usama is an Arabic masculine name meaning 'lion.' It comes from the Arabic noun أَسَامَة (ʾasāma), a word for the lion. In Arabic script the name is written أسامة. The English spellings Usama and Osama represent the same Arabic name; they differ only in transliteration, not in origin or meaning. Because the lion is a traditional emblem of courage in Arabic literature, the name is sometimes glossed as 'lion-like' or associated with bravery, but its literal lexical meaning is simply 'lion.'
Usama Name History & Origins
The name was in use in Arabia by the early seventh century. An early well-known bearer was Usama ibn Zayd, son of Zayd ibn Harithah. Muhammad appointed Usama to command an expedition to Syria while he was still a young man. In the medieval period, Usama ibn Munqidh (1095 - 1188), a Syrian emir, poet, and warrior from the Banu Munqidh of Shaizar, wrote Kitab al-I'tibar, a memoir that provides a vivid account of life during the Crusades. His writings are a famous literary use of the name, not its earliest appearance.
The name is used in Arabic-speaking countries and in other Muslim communities, including Turkey (often as Usame) and South Asia. Transliteration into Latin letters has produced several spellings: Usama, Osama, and Oussama are among the most common. The Arabic spelling أسامة remains constant. The name is distinct from the similar-looking female name Asma (أسماء), which has a different origin and meaning.
How Popular is the Name Usama?
Usama 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 1999. Its best rank was #3,368 in 1999.
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 | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | #9,187 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2000 | #4,375 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 1999 | #3,368 | 24 | 0.0012% |
| 1998 | #3,481 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 1997 | #3,447 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 1996 | #3,543 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 1995 | #5,103 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 1994 | #4,522 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 1993 | #5,750 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1992 | #9,749 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1991 | #6,489 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1988 | #8,433 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1984 | #7,288 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1977 | #6,813 | 5 | 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.
Most Popular Boy Names That Start with U
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How the Name Usama Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You have talent, charm and luck. You can succeed in art and in any educational occupation. You attract peculiar experiences. Your power and protection lies in spiritual side of life. You are an enthusiastic collector and you will be tenacious in holding onto the things you accumulate. You have a good memory and should make an effort to have a positive attitude. Emergencies may raise your intuitive abilities in order to resolve conflict or situation. You become very creative under the pressure, and have quite original ideas to make the best out of it.
You are always looking for a chance to do your own thing, to be your own person, and to have things done your own way.
✦ Usama's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Usama's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.