Oswaldo Boy

Popularity: #897 · Trend: ↘ Falling

Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: oz-WAL-do /oʊzˈwɑːl.doʊ/

Origin: Spanish; Germanic

Meaning: Spanish: God's power; Germanic: ruler's power

Historical & Cultural Background

The name Oswaldo has its 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 into the English language through the Latin form "Oswaldus," which was used in the context of Christianization during the early medieval period. The name became prominent in the 7th century, particularly due to Saint Oswald, the King of Northumbria, who was canonized after his death in 642 AD.

His legacy as a martyr and a unifier of the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms contributed significantly to the name's endurance in various forms across Europe. Saint Oswald's influence extended beyond England, as his name was adopted in various languages, including the Spanish form "Oswaldo." The spread of Christianity played a crucial role in the dissemination of the name, particularly through the works of missionaries and the translation of religious texts.

The name Oswald was included in the Old English translations of the Bible and other ecclesiastical writings, further embedding it in the cultural and religious fabric of medieval Europe. Culturally, the name Oswaldo carries connotations of divine strength and leadership, reflecting the historical figure's role as a ruler and a saint.

The name has been associated with various noble families and has appeared in literature and art throughout the centuries, symbolizing valor and piety. The diminutive form "Waldo" also emerged from this lineage, often used affectionately or informally.

Overall, Oswaldo's historical and cultural significance is deeply tied to its etymological roots and the legacy of Saint Oswald, ensuring its place in the annals of name history.

Famous people named Oswaldo

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

We also feature individuals named Oswaldo 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.

Oswaldo Guayasamín was a painter and sculptor best known for his works depicting social injustice and human suffering.

Oswaldo Payá was a Cuban dissident best known for his advocacy for democracy in Cuba and the Varela Project.

Fictional characters named Oswaldo

The following list of fictional characters named Oswaldo 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.

Oswaldo is a fictional character from the animated series Oswald. He is a friendly blue octopus who enjoys adventures with his friends in the city of Big City.

Sibling suggestions

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

OscarOmarOliviaOrianaOthelloOphelia

Similar names

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

OswaldOsmondOsmarOssianOrenOdinOttoOrlando

U.S. Historical Usage

The name Oswaldo was first seen in the United States in 1915.

Oswaldo has ranked as high as #1176 nationally, which occurred in 2006, and has been most popular in California, Texas, New York, Illinois, and Arizona.

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

Popularity Over Time (National)

The name Oswaldo 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 Oswaldo 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 Oswaldo.

Year Total Births Boy
2025 41 41
2024 43 43
2023 44 44
2022 45 45
2021 52 52
2020 51 51
2019 38 38
2018 53 53
2017 48 48
2016 57 57
2015 64 64
2014 83 83
2013 69 69
2012 88 88
2011 95 95
2010 120 120
2009 172 172
2008 208 208
2007 290 290
2006 461 461
2005 312 312
2004 269 269
2003 240 240
2002 184 184
2001 191 191
2000 127 127
1999 135 135
1998 113 113
1997 107 107
1996 112 112
1995 88 88
1994 86 86
1993 92 92
1992 71 71
1991 84 84
1990 90 90
1989 82 82
1988 57 57
1987 50 50
1986 60 60
1985 43 43
1984 39 39
1983 52 52
1982 58 58
1981 38 38
1980 58 58
1979 36 36
1978 54 54
1977 49 49
1976 54 54
1975 51 51
1974 46 46
1973 39 39
1972 53 53
1971 53 53
1970 25 25
1969 29 29
1968 25 25
1967 21 21
1966 23 23
1965 21 21
1964 21 21
1963 20 20
1962 26 26
1961 28 28
1960 20 20
1959 20 20
1958 22 22
1957 15 15
1956 21 21
1955 14 14
1954 21 21
1953 16 16
1952 12 12
1951 10 10
1950 5 5
1949 7 7
1948 7 7
1946 5 5
1941 10 10
1939 5 5
1936 6 6
1933 5 5
1930 9 9
1926 5 5
1924 7 7
1922 6 6
1921 7 7
1918 5 5
1915 8 8

Top States for Oswaldo (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
TX 9
56%
CA 7
44%