Oscar Boy

Popularity: #214 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: OSS-kar //ˈɒskər//

Origin: Irish; Old Norse

Meaning: Irish: 'deer friend'; Old Norse: 'divine spear'

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Oscar has its roots in Old English and Old Norse, derived from the elements 'os,' meaning 'god,' and 'car,' meaning 'spear.' This etymological combination suggests a meaning akin to 'divine spear' or 'god's spear.' The name was introduced to the English-speaking world through the influence of Scandinavian culture, particularly during the Viking Age, when Norse names began to permeate the British Isles. The earliest recorded use of the name Oscar in England dates back to the 18th century, although it was already present in various forms in Norse mythology and literature.

Historically, one of the most notable figures bearing the name Oscar was Saint Oscar, an English bishop of the 8th century who played a significant role in the Christianization of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms. His canonization and subsequent veneration contributed to the name's prominence in medieval England.

Additionally, the name gained further recognition through literary works, notably in the 19th century with the works of Oscar Wilde, an influential playwright and poet whose contributions to literature have left a lasting legacy. Culturally, the name Oscar has been associated with nobility and valor, reflecting its etymological roots.

The name has also been adopted in various forms across different cultures, including the Irish 'Oisín' and the Scandinavian 'Åsgeir.' The enduring appeal of the name can be attributed to its strong historical associations and the cultural resonance it has maintained through literature and religious significance. The diminutive form 'Ossie' has also been used in various contexts, although it is less common than the full name.

Famous people named Oscar

In this section, you will find notable people named Oscar. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Oscar who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Oscar who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.

Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.

Oscar Wilde is a playwright and author best known for The Picture of Dorian Gray, The Importance of Being Earnest, and An Ideal Husband.

Oscar Isaac is an actor best known for Ex Machina, Inside Llewyn Davis, and Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Oscar de la Hoya is a former professional boxer best known for winning multiple world championships in six different weight classes.

Oscar Pistorius is a former Paralympic athlete best known for competing in the 2012 London Olympics and winning multiple gold medals in the Paralympics.

Oscar Niemeyer is an architect best known for designing the National Congress of Brazil, the Niterói Contemporary Art Museum, and the Cathedral of Brasília.

Oscar Robertson is a former professional basketball player best known for being a 12-time NBA All-Star and winning the NBA MVP award in 1964.

Oscar Levant was a pianist, composer, and actor best known for his performances in the films The Barkleys of Broadway and An American in Paris.

Fictional characters named Oscar

The following list of fictional characters named Oscar is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.

You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.

Oscar the Grouch is a fictional character from the children's television series Sesame Street. He is a grumpy, green Muppet who lives in a trash can and enjoys being cantankerous and messy.

Oscar Isaac is a fictional character from the film Ex Machina. He is a brilliant but morally ambiguous programmer who creates an advanced artificial intelligence.

Sibling suggestions

If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Oscar, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.

OliverOwenOrenOpheliaOliviaOriana

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Oscar. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.

AsherEliasSilasEmmettHugoLeoFelixMiloOtisJasperArlo

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Oscar was first seen in the United States in 1880.

Oscar has ranked as high as #214 nationally, which occurred in 2006, and has been most popular in California, Texas, New York, Illinois, and Florida.

In the past 5 years the name Oscar has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Oscar is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Oscar was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.

Popularity Over Time (National) — Table

We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Oscar.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2025 1,620 1,620 0
2024 1,669 1,669 0
2023 1,702 1,702 0
2022 1,892 1,892 0
2021 1,697 1,697 0
2020 1,766 1,766 0
2019 1,892 1,892 0
2018 1,956 1,956 0
2017 2,048 2,048 0
2016 2,261 2,261 0
2015 2,304 2,299 5
2014 2,321 2,321 0
2013 2,242 2,242 0
2012 2,198 2,198 0
2011 2,378 2,378 0
2010 2,670 2,665 5
2009 3,124 3,117 7
2008 3,563 3,563 0
2007 3,556 3,548 8
2006 3,607 3,601 6
2005 3,468 3,461 7
2004 3,363 3,348 15
2003 3,315 3,301 14
2002 3,250 3,233 17
2001 3,203 3,195 8
2000 3,186 3,178 8
1999 3,144 3,126 18
1998 3,017 3,006 11
1997 2,987 2,970 17
1996 3,014 3,000 14
1995 2,748 2,730 18
1994 2,871 2,847 24
1993 2,867 2,847 20
1992 2,605 2,586 19
1991 2,466 2,445 21
1990 2,350 2,328 22
1989 1,976 1,966 10
1988 1,740 1,733 7
1987 1,676 1,661 15
1986 1,584 1,572 12
1985 1,603 1,592 11
1984 1,440 1,421 19
1983 1,386 1,370 16
1982 1,497 1,486 11
1981 1,473 1,464 9
1980 1,411 1,396 15
1979 1,323 1,312 11
1978 1,325 1,311 14
1977 1,284 1,273 11
1976 1,244 1,231 13
1975 1,246 1,235 11
1974 1,206 1,198 8
1973 1,076 1,068 8
1972 1,121 1,111 10
1971 1,078 1,066 12
1970 1,050 1,042 8
1969 1,014 1,004 10
1968 903 903 0
1967 939 934 5
1966 943 943 0
1965 997 989 8
1964 1,010 999 11
1963 1,027 1,021 6
1962 1,012 1,007 5
1961 1,042 1,042 0
1960 1,066 1,066 0
1959 1,092 1,087 5
1958 1,077 1,070 7
1957 1,208 1,200 8
1956 1,138 1,132 6
1955 1,162 1,155 7
1954 1,279 1,268 11
1953 1,204 1,196 8
1952 1,096 1,087 9
1951 1,074 1,067 7
1950 1,112 1,103 9
1949 1,130 1,124 6
1948 1,106 1,098 8
1947 1,118 1,110 8
1946 1,027 1,017 10
1945 946 939 7
1944 916 910 6
1943 1,084 1,074 10
1942 964 958 6
1941 1,030 1,022 8
1940 942 936 6
1939 1,008 1,000 8
1938 1,035 1,024 11
1937 995 988 7
1936 1,021 1,008 13
1935 1,098 1,091 7
1934 1,107 1,096 11
1933 1,122 1,111 11
1932 1,268 1,254 14
1931 1,355 1,334 21
1930 1,484 1,467 17
1929 1,501 1,482 19
1928 1,473 1,464 9
1927 1,649 1,635 14
1926 1,728 1,715 13
1925 1,764 1,754 10
1924 1,826 1,819 7
1923 1,889 1,880 9
1922 2,020 2,007 13
1921 1,996 1,978 18
1920 2,018 2,006 12
1919 1,996 1,991 5
1918 2,124 2,113 11
1917 1,970 1,961 9
1916 1,924 1,916 8
1915 1,802 1,788 14
1914 1,561 1,553 8
1913 1,256 1,249 7
1912 1,164 1,157 7
1911 636 636 0
1910 505 505 0
1909 466 459 7
1908 476 476 0
1907 483 483 0
1906 412 412 0
1905 436 436 0
1904 442 442 0
1903 427 427 0
1902 397 397 0
1901 428 422 6
1900 568 563 5
1899 447 447 0
1898 551 546 5
1897 543 543 0
1896 539 539 0
1895 549 549 0
1894 601 601 0
1893 574 574 0
1892 639 634 5
1891 551 551 0
1890 635 628 7
1889 577 572 5
1888 647 647 0
1887 574 574 0
1886 650 645 5
1885 623 623 0
1884 615 615 0
1883 607 607 0
1882 625 625 0
1881 530 530 0
1880 544 544 0

Top States for Oscar (2024)

We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. The table below shows the five states with the highest number of births for this name in the selected year. Use the toggle to expand the list to every state with reported births.

State Births Share
CA 261
16%
TX 251
15%
NY 90
6%
FL 82
5%
AZ 60
4%
IL 53
3%
WA 52
3%
MA 51
3%
GA 48
3%
NC 43
3%
MD 42
3%
NJ 40
2%
MN 38
2%
PA 37
2%
VA 36
2%
WI 36
2%
MI 32
2%
IN 32
2%
OH 31
2%
TN 30
2%
CO 29
2%
OR 28
2%
UT 20
1%
KY 19
1%
MO 18
1%
LA 15
1%
OK 15
1%
SC 14
1%
AL 14
1%
NM 12
1%
KS 12
1%
AR 10
1%
NE 10
1%
NV 9
1%
IA 9
1%
ID 7
0%
ME 7
0%
RI 7
0%
CT 7
0%
DC 7
0%
MT 6
0%
ND 6
0%
NH 5
0%
MS 5
0%