 Calligraphic representation of Al-Hussein name | |
| Pronunciation | Arabic: [ħuˈsajn, -eːn, ħo-, ħʊ-] Egyptian Arabic: [ħeˈseːn, ħoˈseːn] Persian: [ho'sejn] Turkish: [hyˈsejin] |
|---|---|
| Gender | Male |
| Origin | |
| Word/name | Arabic |
| Meaning | Handsome |
| Region of origin | Arabia |
| Other names | |
| Related names | Hassan |
Hussein, Hussain, Hossain, Huseyn, Husayn, Husein, or Husain (/huːˈseɪn/; Arabic: حُسَيْن Ḥusayn), coming from the triconsonantal root Ḥ-S-N (Arabic: ح س ن), is an Arabic name which is the diminutive of Hassan, meaning "good", "handsome" or "beautiful". It is commonly given as a male given name, particularly among Shias.[1] In Persian language contexts, the transliterations Ḥosayn, Hosayn, or Hossein are sometimes used.[2] In the transliteration of Indo-Aryan languages, the forms "Hussain" or "Hossain" may be used. Other variants include Husên, Husejin, Husejn, Husain, Hisên, Hussain, Husayin, Hussayin, Hüseyin, Husseyin, Huseyn, Hossain, Hosein, Husseyn (etc.). The Encyclopaedia of Islam, which follows a standardized way for transliterating Arabic names, used the form "Ḥusain" in its first edition and "Ḥusayn" in its second and third editions.[3][4][5]
This name was not used in the pre-Islamic period,[6] and is recorded to have been first used by the Islamic prophet Muhammad when he named his grandson Husayn ibn Ali, saying he had been commanded to do so by Allah through the archangel Gabriel.[6]