Ossie Unisex

Popularity: — · Trend: → Stable

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: AH-see //ˈɔː.si//

Origin: English; Hebrew

Meaning: English: God's salvation; Hebrew: a diminutive of Oswald

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Ossie is believed to have roots in the Old English name Oswald, which is derived from the elements "os," meaning "god," and "weald," meaning "power" or "rule." This name was introduced to the English language through the Anglo-Saxon period, where it was used as a given name for both males and females. The transition into the modern form Ossie likely occurred through diminutive or affectionate adaptations, reflecting a common linguistic practice in English where names are often shortened or modified for familiarity.

Historically, Oswald was a prominent name in early medieval England, notably associated with Saint Oswald, the King of Northumbria, who reigned in the 7th century. He is venerated as a saint in various Christian traditions, and his legacy contributed to the name's significance in the region.

The spread of Christianity during this period, along with the establishment of monastic communities, helped solidify the name's presence in ecclesiastical texts and among the nobility. The name Ossie, as a derivative, gained cultural resonance through its association with strength and divine favor, reflecting the attributes of its root name.

In literature and folklore, names derived from Oswald often symbolize leadership and protection, aligning with the historical figure's legacy. While Ossie may not have the same historical prominence as Oswald, it carries a sense of warmth and familiarity, often used in familial or affectionate contexts.

This diminutive form has been embraced in various cultures, further enriching its historical tapestry.

Famous people named Ossie

In this section, you will find notable people named Ossie. 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 Ossie who have made a significant impact on popular culture.

We also feature individuals named Ossie 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.

Ossie Davis was an actor and playwright best known for Do the Right Thing, The Stand, and Bubba Ho-Tep.

Ossie Smith is a former professional baseball player best known for his time with the St. Louis Cardinals and being a 15-time All-Star.

Sibling suggestions

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

OrianaOliviaOpalOdeliaOctavia

Similar names

Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Ossie. 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.

AlyssaCassieEssieJosieLissieMaggieTessie

U.S. Historical Usage

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

Ossie has ranked as high as #1093 nationally, which occurred in 1919, and has been most popular in Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, Mississippi, and South Carolina.

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

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Ossie 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 Ossie 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 Ossie.

Year Total Births Boy Girl
2014 5 5 0
2007 6 6 0
2006 6 6 0
2004 6 6 0
2003 6 6 0
2001 5 5 0
1997 7 7 0
1993 7 7 0
1992 8 8 0
1990 8 8 0
1987 6 6 0
1986 5 5 0
1985 9 9 0
1984 5 5 0
1983 11 11 0
1982 7 7 0
1981 7 7 0
1980 13 7 6
1979 12 12 0
1978 10 10 0
1977 5 5 0
1976 14 14 0
1975 6 6 0
1974 7 7 0
1973 6 6 0
1972 7 7 0
1971 7 7 0
1970 11 11 0
1969 18 13 5
1968 14 14 0
1967 13 13 0
1966 22 9 13
1965 16 5 11
1964 23 15 8
1963 24 13 11
1962 20 15 5
1961 21 12 9
1960 20 15 5
1959 30 13 17
1958 21 8 13
1957 39 18 21
1956 40 24 16
1955 29 18 11
1954 48 22 26
1953 42 19 23
1952 43 20 23
1951 45 21 24
1950 44 22 22
1949 55 21 34
1948 57 32 25
1947 52 24 28
1946 48 21 27
1945 51 20 31
1944 61 25 36
1943 54 25 29
1942 66 24 42
1941 53 26 27
1940 63 23 40
1939 67 28 39
1938 69 18 51
1937 61 18 43
1936 56 16 40
1935 61 17 44
1934 82 27 55
1933 80 29 51
1932 69 25 44
1931 85 29 56
1930 93 29 64
1929 82 27 55
1928 98 24 74
1927 97 23 74
1926 91 30 61
1925 107 22 85
1924 90 21 69
1923 106 30 76
1922 111 36 75
1921 105 27 78
1920 125 42 83
1919 138 42 96
1918 99 25 74
1917 104 30 74
1916 99 32 67
1915 93 22 71
1914 83 24 59
1913 66 18 48
1912 68 19 49
1911 44 11 33
1910 61 18 43
1909 49 9 40
1908 42 11 31
1907 39 7 32
1906 29 5 24
1905 39 9 30
1904 30 8 22
1903 28 0 28
1902 33 9 24
1901 21 0 21
1900 47 15 32
1899 15 7 8
1898 24 8 16
1897 19 9 10
1896 17 0 17
1895 21 6 15
1894 28 5 23
1893 18 0 18
1892 20 8 12
1891 20 5 15
1890 9 0 9
1889 20 6 14
1888 16 8 8
1887 17 0 17
1886 10 5 5
1885 13 7 6
1884 15 6 9
1883 7 0 7
1880 14 9 5

Top States for Ossie (1963)

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
GA 5
100%