Where does the name Hussein come from?

Hussein is a boy name of Arabic origin. Particularly revered among Shia Muslims (Ashura commemorates his martyrdom).

Is Hussein a boy or a girl name?

Hussein is overwhelmingly a boy name in the United States. Of the 3,217 U.S. babies recorded with this name, more than 99% are boys.

How popular is the name Hussein in 2023?

Hussein ranks #1614 for boys in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 2015 with 135 babies.

How do you pronounce Hussein?

Hussein is pronounced hoo-SAYN (2 syllables).

What are common spellings of Hussein?

Hussein is also written as Husayn, Hussain, Husain.

A name from Arabic · Boy

Hussein

حُسَيْن

Affectionate diminutive of Hasan: "little handsome one, little good one." Name of the Prophet's second grandson, martyred at Karbala — the central figure of Shia remembrance.

Compare

Popularity over time

A 56-year arc in numbers.

3,217 U.S. births recorded from 1967–2023.

Popularity · 1967–2023

108 births in 2023

1967 1995 2023

Babies named per year Peak year Most recent

Meaning

A name that means something.

HAffectionate diminutive of Hasan: "little handsome one, little good one." Name of the Prophet's second grandson, martyred at Karbala — the central figure of Shia remembrance.

Etymology, in one line

Arabic root: ḥ-s-n — ح-س-ن, beauty — diminutive form

Regional variants

Particularly revered among Shia Muslims (Ashura commemorates his martyrdom). "Hussein" is the dominant US spelling; "Husayn" is the academic transliteration.

Variants & spellings

3 ways to spell "Hussein".

Each transliteration carries a slightly different cultural fingerprint.

Husayn Most common Hussain Husain

Famous bearers

People who carry the name Hussein.

H
Husayn ibn Ali (martyr of Karbala)
H
King Hussein of Jordan

Quick answers

People often ask about Hussein.

What does the name Hussein mean?: Hussein means affectionate diminutive of Hasan: "little handsome one, little good one." Name of the Prophet's second grandson, martyred at Karbala — the central figure of Shia remembrance.
Where does the name Hussein come from?: Hussein is a boy name of Arabic origin. Particularly revered among Shia Muslims (Ashura commemorates his martyrdom).
Is Hussein a boy or a girl name?: Hussein is overwhelmingly a boy name in the United States. Of the 3,217 U.S. babies recorded with this name, more than 99% are boys.
How popular is the name Hussein in 2023?: Hussein ranks #1614 for boys in the U.S. Social Security Administration's 2023 dataset. Its all-time U.S. peak was 2015 with 135 babies.
How do you pronounce Hussein?: Hussein is pronounced hoo-SAYN (2 syllables).
What are common spellings of Hussein?: Hussein is also written as Husayn, Hussain, Husain.

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About this page

Popularity counts come from the U.S. Social Security Administration's national dataset. Meaning and cultural context drawn from classical sources: Lisan al-Arab, Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Qur'an and Sunnah. If you spot an error, please let us know.