Omar

Omar ~ Eloquent, Hebrew ~ Long-lived, Arabic

Origins
This name is showing a lot of potential in America, and it's been on a wavering but significant upward trend for half a century. There are several reasons for its continued popularity. First of all, it has a unique feel to it but is still pretty accessible. Secondly, it has origin is Hebrew, and the name is mentioned in the Bible (he is the son of Esau). And because of its Arabic origins, it's a common name in Arab and Muslim populations, as well as in Spanish-speaking countries. It has serious international appeal.

Omar is also a surname, making it a good fit for those who like a surname sound, or who want to honor a relative with this last name. Omar is straight-forward enough that it won't have teachers scratching their heads when it comes to roll-call. And that's a great combination, if you ask me.

Omar in Pop Culture
But let's face the obvious. I give you two words: Omar Epps. Teen girls swooned after him in Love and Basketball, and viewers of all kinds love seeing him in prime time's House, where he plays a brilliant doctor. He's an excellent actor who definitely made an impact on the name's popularity.

There are a lot of other contemporary Omars out there, many of them in sports. A few ancient men to bear this name include Omar Khayyám, a Persian poet, and Omar Bradley, a U.S. army general.

Popularity
This name was number 131 in America when this post was originally published. For 2014, it fell to 214.