umar

Umar is a male given name of Arabic origin. It derives from the root ʿ-m-r, meaning to live long or to have a long life, and is commonly interpreted as “long-lived” or “life.” The name is widely used in Muslim-majority societies and among Arabic- and Urdu-speaking communities. It is frequently transliterated as Umar, Omar, Omari, or Omer, reflecting regional pronunciation and language differences.

Historically, Umar ibn al-Khattab (c. 584–644 CE) was the second caliph of the Rashidun Caliphate and a central figure in early Islamic governance and expansion. Another prominent bearer is Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz (c. 680–720), an Umayyad caliph renowned for his piety and administrative reforms; he is often cited by historians as a model ruler in Islamic tradition.

In contemporary usage, Umar remains a common given name across the Arab world, the Indian subcontinent, Iran, Turkey, Southeast Asia, and their diasporas. The name appears across a range of fields, including politics, sports, and culture, with multiple spellings due to transliteration. The variant Omar is widely used in Western contexts and in many languages.

Overall, Umar is a longstanding given name with deep historical associations and broad cultural adoption, continuing to be a familiar choice in many Muslim and non-Muslim communities alike.