Oscar

Oscar - A very unique male name

Oscar appeared on the charts for the first time in 1910 on position #74. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Oscar and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Oscar? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Oscar. The baby boy name Oscar was given to 1,605 baby boys in 2025, ranking #223 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 914 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Oscar peaked in popularity 115 years ago in 1911 on position 67.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Oscar, 1-5?

Oscar is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Oscar is currently topping the baby name charts in Vermont at position #77 - and is the least popular in South Carolina at position #493.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Oscar is where you live.

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Oscar origin and meaning

Irish or Old English — derivation disputed

Uncertain — Irish tradition reads Osgar as "deer lover"; the Old English form Osgar would mean "god spear"

Oscar has two respectable pedigrees that cannot both be the whole story: in Irish legend Oscar is the son of Oisín, while an Old English Osgar existed independently. The name spread across Europe in the eighteenth century through Macpherson's Ossian poems and Napoleon's godson's fame, and it has been in American data since 1910.

Origin uncertain

Oscar is a 5 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Oscar, pop culture references for the name Oscar and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Oscar

We've found the following names that sound similar to Oscar, sorted by popularity.

Oskar / Osher / Ozair /

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Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Oscar

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Oscar a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Oscar?

2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

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Pronunciation

OS-kur · /ˈɒskÉ™r/

Around the world

• Óscar (Spanish) — Used as-is in Spanish, with a written accent
• Oskar (German) — The German and Scandinavian spelling

Spellings and nicknames

• Oskar — The German and Scandinavian spelling, also used in America

Nicknames: OzOzzie

Famous bearers

• Oscar Wilde — Irish playwright and wit, author of The Importance of Being Earnest (1854–1900) Historical
• Oscar Isaac — Actor known for Inside Llewyn Davis and Star Wars (b. 1979) Contemporary
• Oscar Peterson — Canadian jazz pianist (1925–2007) Contemporary

Style

InternationalClassic

Why parents choose it

Parents choose Oscar for its cosmopolitan, slightly vintage charm — a grand old name that feels fresh again on a small boy.

Worth knowing

• Oscar the Grouch and the Academy Awards (the Oscars) are the two associations everyone makes.
• In Spanish-speaking settings it is Óscar, stressed on the first syllable with a written accent.