Omar

Omar is a masculine given name of Arabic origin. It is derived from the Arabic root A-M-R, typically associated with life or longevity, and is often interpreted as meaning “long-lived” or “life.” The name has been widely used in the Arab world and across Muslim-majority regions since early Islamic times.

Transliterations include Umar, Umer, and Ömer, with the form Omar becoming common in English and other languages. The name appears across many cultures and languages, including Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, Europe, and the Americas, often through diaspora communities. It is primarily used as a masculine given name, though naming practices vary by culture.

Notable bearers include Umar ibn al-Khattab (c. 584–644), the second caliph of the Rashidun Caliphate; Omar Sharif (1932–2015), Egyptian actor; Omar Sy (born 1978), French actor and comedian; Omar Torrijos (1929–1981), Panamanian military leader and de facto head of state; and Omar Mateen (1986–2016), American gunman involved in the Orlando nightclub shooting. In fiction, Omar Little is a central character in the television series The Wire.