Total births
979
Boys' name · since 1968
Osama
Osama has 979 recorded births since 1968 in federal Social Security data, most heavily in 1999 -- full year-by-year trend, decade aggregates, and state rankings follow.
- #6923
- among boys today
- 979
- born since 1968
- 1990s
- peak decade
- 52%
- more common than other boys
Osama currently ranks #6923 among boys' names in America, with 979 babies recorded since 1968.
Social Security Administration records show Osama recorded 979 times among boys since 1968, holding rank #6923 nationally today, ahead of 52% of boys, peaking in the 1990s. This profile derives year-by-year birth trends, decade totals, and state-level distribution directly from SSA birth-registration files spanning 1968 to 2025.
- #6923 among boys today
- 979 born since 1968
- 1990s peak decade
- 52% more common than other boys
Data updated Jun 2026
The verdict
Osama is currently the #6923 boys' name in America, more common than 52% of boys - 979 born since 1968, peaking in the 1990s.
- #6923
- among boys today
- 979
- born since 1968
- 1990s
- peak decade
- 52%
- more common than other boys
Osama vs. every other boys name in current SSA rankings
#6923
of 14,294 boys in use
More common than 52% of names given to boys today.
1990s
Peak decade
43% of everyone ever named Osama was born in this single decade.
1999
Single peak year
65 babies were named Osama in 1999 - its busiest year on record.
How Osama compares
979 Top 31% higher than 69% of 14,294 names currently given to boys
Based on all-time total births among currently-ranked boys names. Names with fewer occurrences are grouped into wider buckets on the right.
Source U.S. Social Security Administration, national baby name data
How the numbers stack up
Osama's all-time total is 167% above the median boys name, and Liam still leads by a wide margin.
| Metric | Osama | Median boys name (Elchonon) | #1 boys name (Liam) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All-time total births | 979 | 367 | 358,536 |
| Peak-year births | 65 | 23 | 22,252 |
Osama's usage pattern, beyond the headline number
Divide Osama's SSA record in two at 1997 and the more recent half accounts for 48% of all births, the earlier half the remaining 52%, a genuinely balanced usage pattern. Its calmest year was 1974, with only 5 births recorded -- set against the 1999 peak of 65, that's the full swing in one name's fortunes.
Osama at a glance
Outside the top 1,000Peak year
1999
Current rank
#6,923
Active since
1968
Osama popularity over time
Annual U.S. births registered with the Social Security Administration · 1968–2025
- Peak year (1999)
- 65
- Annual births at peak, across 58 years of records
Osama by decade
Total births in each ten-year window, peak vs trough at a glance
1990s was Osama's strongest decade.
419 babies received the name during that ten-year window, about 43% of all-time use.
Osama births by decade
Total births in each ten-year window
- 1960s 6
1960s
6 births
- 1970s 63
1970s
63 births
- 1980s
1980s
181 births
- 1990s
1990s
419 births
- 2000s 137
2000s
137 births
- 2010s 96
2010s
96 births
- 2020s 77
2020s
77 births
What this shows Peak: 1990s at 419 births (43% of all-time use).
How Osama compares to similarly-sized names
Years in SSA records vs. share of all-time use concentrated in the single peak year, among 15 boys names closest to Osama's total volume
Osama vs 15 similarly-sized boys names
Osama by state
Where Osama concentrates geographically, total births since 1968
| Rank | State | Visual share | Births | Share of total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | California | | 63 | 6.4% |
| #2 | New York | | 56 | 5.7% |
| #3 | Texas | | 35 | 3.6% |
| #4 | New Jersey | | 21 | 2.1% |
| #5 | Illinois | | 19 | 1.9% |
| #6 | Michigan | | 6 | 0.6% |
| #7 | Virginia | | 5 | 0.5% |
California share of Osama's total US births 6.4%
Even split
63 of 979 births nationwide. Compared to a flat distribution across 7 reporting states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How popular is the name Osama? ▼
Osama has been given to 979 babies in the U.S. since 1968, according to SSA data. Among boys, it ranks #6923 as of the latest data. 65 babies were born in 1999, its single highest year.
When was Osama most popular? ▼
Osama was most popular in the 1990s decade with 419 total births. The single peak year was 1999.
Where is Osama most popular? ▼
The top states for the name Osama are California (63 births), New York (56 births), Texas (35 births).
How long has the name Osama been used? ▼
The SSA has tracked Osama since 1968 -- 58 years through the most recent 2025 data.
What names are similar to Osama? ▼
Names with a similar sound or spelling include Osaze, Osamah, Osamu, Osa, and 4 more. These share a common prefix and are also used for boys.
What to do with Osama's data
- Osama's decade-level peak was the 1990s (419 total births); usage has since declined to 77 in the 2020s -- if you're weighing a "classic revival" angle, the trend line argues against it.
- California records the most Osamas (63 births) -- see the full state breakdown if geography matters to your decision. California names
- Weighing it against an alternative? Put two names side by side. Compare names
Figures reflect SSA-reported births only; see the methodology above for the privacy-suppression floor.
Keep exploring Osama
Nearby Names Like Osama
Names with a similar sound, spelling, or feel to Osama
Osaze Boy
#10258 132 births
Osamah Boy
101 births
Osamu Boy
94 births
Osa Boy
87 births
Osagie Boy
36 births
Compare Osama side by side: Osama vs Osaze Osama vs Osamah Osama vs Osamu
Related Names
Names with a similar popularity rank to Osama
Data Sources
Data as of June 2026. Source: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA).
According to the Social Security Administration, this profile draws directly from the agency's public-use baby-name files (updated June 2026). See our methodology for the full extraction, aggregation, and privacy-suppression rules.
Primary: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names from Social Security Card Applications, National Data, 1968–2025 (ssa.gov/oact/babynames).
State-level: Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, Baby Names, State-Level Files (namesbystate.zip).
Cite this page
NameAlmanac Editorial. "Osama: #6923 Boys' Name - 979 Births, Peak 1999." NameAlmanac. Accessed via https://namealmanac.com/name/osama. Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Name Almanac is rendered directly from the Social Security Administration's public baby-name files, no number is typed in by an editor. This profile for Osama draws directly on SSA national and state-level files, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.