All information on our website is based on our own original research in Arabic, Persian and English-language scholarly references. We never copy information from other websites.
Question
Click here to send us a question

Meaning of the name Usman/Uthman

Answer

This is an official answer by QuranicNames.com Staff

Usman, which can also be spelled as Uthman, Osman, Othman, Uthmaan, and others, is an ancient Arabic name for boys that means "snake". It was common practice among Arabs to name their children after animals and insects, thinking that this would prevent their children from being harmed by envious people. It is a popular name among Muslims due to the fact that it as the name of a close companion of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah upon him, who became the third righteous caliph, Uthman ibn Affan.

When the Prophet thought that a person's name was a bad name, he would change their name. Therefore even though the meaning of "snake" doesn't sound all that great, the fact that Prophet didn't change the name shows that it is an acceptable name for Muslims.

Learn to read the Quran from scratch with our extremely highly-rated, innovative book! (written by the creator of this website)
Available in both paperback and Kindle formats.

Most Popular Muslim Names in 2025

Categories: Baby Name Question and Answer
Disclaimer
The content on this site does not constitute any type of legal or religious advice. Always consult your local imam or other knowledgeable individuals before making a decision about choosing a baby name.
Copyright 2011-2025 QuranicNames.com. All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use