Oswald

Oswald - A very unique male name

Oswald appeared on the charts for the first time in 1912 on position #599. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Oswald and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Oswald? 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 Oswald. The baby boy name Oswald was given to 23 baby boys in 2025, ranking #2319 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 63,751 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Oswald peaked in popularity 114 years ago in 1912 on position 599.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Oswald, 1-5?

Oswald is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Oswald is currently topping the baby name charts in Arizona at position #911 - and is the least popular in California at position #2,393.

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 Oswald is where you live.

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Oswald origin and meaning

Old English

From Old English os, 'god', and weald, 'power, rule' — 'god's power'

Oswald was a king and saint of Northumbria and a steady old English name, but in America it never rose far and peaked as long ago as 1918. The 1963 assassination of President Kennedy fixed Lee Harvey Oswald — whose surname it was — as the name's dominant modern echo, and use stayed minimal.

Attested etymology

Oswald is a 6 letter name with 2 syllables.

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

Similar to Oswald

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

Oswaldo / Osualdo /

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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 Oswald

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 Oswald 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 Oswald?

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

OZ-wald · /ˈɒzwɔːld/

Around the world

• Oswald (German) — Used as-is, a traditional German name

Spellings and nicknames

• Osvald — Scandinavian and Slavic form of the same name

Nicknames: OzOzzie

Famous bearers

• Saint Oswald — King of Northumbria who spread Christianity in northern England and was killed in battle (604–642) Historical

Style

ClassicRoyal

Why parents choose it

Oswald appeals to parents hunting deep-cut Anglo-Saxon names with royal and saintly history and a friendly short form in Oz.

Worth knowing

• Lee Harvey Oswald is the first association for many adults, even though Oswald was his surname.