Saddam
/sæˈdɑːm/noun
A masculine Arabic given name and, by extension, a surname.
Did you know?Saddam is an Arabic personal name built from a root tied to striking or colliding, which is why it can suggest someone who meets an opponent head-on rather than a mystical title.
Etymological Timeline
Arabic root
Arabic
ṣ-d-m
“A root meaning to strike, collide, or confront.”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
ṣaddām
“A form built from the root, meaning one who confronts or clashes.”
Modern Arabic
Arabic
Ṣaddām
“A masculine given name.”
20th Century
English
Saddam
“An English spelling of the Arabic name, especially associated with Saddam Hussein.”