Oscar: Meaning, origin and popularity
Pronounced AHS-ker · 2 syllables
Oscar means “divine spear; friend of deer”, from Irish and Norse.
Exact origin uncertain. Resuscitated by James Mcpherson in The Works of Ossian (1765). Napoleon, an admirer of the Ossianic poems, chose it for his godson Oscar Bernadotte, who became a king of Sweden.
- Meaning
- divine spear; friend of deer
- Origin
- Irish, Norse
- Pronunciation
- AHS-ker
- US rank (2025)
- #223
- US babies a year
- about 1,716 (2021–2025)
- Peak
- around 1880
- Style
- Vintage, Comeback, Classic
How popular is Oscar?
Oscar was the #223 name in the US in 2025, given to 1,620 babies. Its use has been fairly steady over the last decade. It peaked around 1880.
Around the world
| Country | Rank |
|---|---|
| United States | #223 |
| England & Wales | #7 |
| Scotland | #30 |
| Northern Ireland | #37 |
| Ireland | #34 |
| France | #64 |
| Norway | #50 |
| Canada | #169 |
| Australia | #16 |
How old are people named Oscar?
Half of US adults named Oscar are older than 35; most are between 19 and 79. (Estimated from US births by year and life tables.)
Sibling names for Oscar
Names that real brothers and sisters of people named Oscar have, from family records on Wikidata, most common first.
Names like Oscar
Chosen by the same families or with a similar style and era.
On these lists
Questions about Oscar
What does the name Oscar mean?
Oscar means “divine spear; friend of deer”. It comes from Irish and Norse.
How do you pronounce Oscar?
Oscar is pronounced AHS-ker.
How popular is the name Oscar?
Oscar was the #223 name in the US in 2025, given to 1,620 babies. Its use has been fairly steady over the last decade. It peaked around 1880.
How old are people named Oscar?
Half of US adults named Oscar are older than 35. Most are between 19 and 79.