Hussein

Hussein, also transliterated Husayn, Husain, or Hüseyin, is a masculine given name of Arabic origin. It derives from the root ḥ-s-n, meaning good or beautiful, and often carries the sense of "handsome" or "goodness." The name is widely used in the Arabic-speaking world and in Muslim communities, with spelling variants across languages including Husain (Urdu, Arabic transliteration), Hossein, Hosein, and Hüseyin (Turkish). In some contexts it is also found as a surname.

In Islamic history, Husayn ibn Ali is a central figure: the grandson of Prophet Muhammad and son of Ali and Fatimah. He is especially revered in Shia Islam as the third Imam and is remembered for his stand against the Umayyad caliphate and his martyrdom at the Battle of Karbala in 680 CE. His death at Karbala is commemorated annually during Ashura and has been a major symbol of resistance and social justice in Muslim-majority societies.

Among contemporary or later leaders, Hussein bin Talal, King of Jordan from 1952 to 1999, is another well-known bearer of the name. His long reign saw modernization efforts in Jordan and involvement in Arab-Israeli diplomacy.

The given name remains common across the Middle East, South Asia, and the Muslim world, reflecting its religious and cultural resonance. Variants appear in many languages, and the name is often chosen for its historical and religious associations.