Declining since 2007, #223 for boys today.
Popularity of Oscar since 1880
Babies named Oscar per year in U.S. Social Security records. Raw births topped out in 2006, but relative to how few babies were recorded back then, Oscar's real moment was 1886.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1880s | 5,982 |
| 1890s | 5,612 |
| 1900s | 4,517 |
| 1910s | 14,869 |
| 1920s | 17,740 |
| 1930s | 11,373 |
| 1940s | 10,188 |
| 1950s | 11,365 |
| 1960s | 9,908 |
| 1970s | 11,847 |
| 1980s | 15,661 |
| 1990s | 27,885 |
| 2000s | 33,545 |
| 2010s | 22,260 |
| 2020s | 10,346 |
Meaning & origin
Oscar is a name with a rich dual heritage, blending Irish mythology and Scandinavian royalty. First recorded in U.S. data in 1880, it reached its peak popularity in 1886, when it ranked 223rd nationally. In 2025, the name ranks 223rd again, with about 1 in 1,054 boys receiving it, though it has been on a downward trajectory since 2007. Oscar has seen particular favor in states like Vermont, Washington D.C., and New Mexico, reflecting its broad but regionally varied appeal. The name's enduring use across centuries and cultures speaks to its classic yet approachable sound, making it a staple that has never faded entirely from American naming practice.
The name Oscar has at least two distinct origins. In Irish legend, Oscar was the grandson of Finn MacCool, and his name is likely derived from the Old Irish elements "os" (deer) and "cara" (friend), meaning "deer friend." Separately, the name gained popularity in Sweden through the 18th-century King Oscar I, whose name was a Swedish form of the Old English name "Osgar," from "os" (god) and "gar" (spear), yielding "spear of the gods." The name spread across the English-speaking world in the 19th century, aided by literary and royal associations.
Where Oscar is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Oscar” around the world
Where Oscar lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
#62
in 2024
Ireland
#31
in 2025
New Zealand
#21
in 2025
Quebec
47
babies in 2025
Australia (NSW)
#17
in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · NZ Dept of Internal Affairs (New Zealand) · Retraite Québec (Quebec) · NSW Registry of BDM (Australia (NSW)).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Ozzy, Oz, Oskie
Variants: Oskar, Oskari
Sibling names for Oscar
Names that share Oscar's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Clara, Lily, Maeve, Ruby, Stella, Annie, Bertha, Bonnie, Cora, Dora, Emilie, Erma, Hilda, Ida, Imogene, Inez, Karla, Lola, Maxine, Nina, Olive, Opal, Penelope, Ramona, Rita, Rosalie, Viola, Violet, Wilma, Adela, Adele, Adelia, Adella, Adelle, Alina, Almira, Avis, Bertina, Celia, Clementine, Cleo, Corine, Dahlia, Elberta, Elida, Elnora, Elva, Emelie, Estel, Estella, Estelle, Genia, Gilda, Goldie, Hilma, Lenore, Leona, Lida, Liza, Lottie, Lucinda, Lulu, Maisie, Mari, Maud, Milena, Mimi, Odessa, Palma, Petra, Rosella, Roxie, Samara, Sonia, Sybil, Terra, Thea, Theda, Vera, Vivien, Wilda, Willetta, Yitty, Zella, Zelma, Adelene, Alda, Alease, Alix, Alvena, Alvera, Avonlea, Beaulah, Briseyda, Corene, Delta, Dulcie, Elanor, Elenor, Elmira, Elois, Elta, Emmer, Evelyne, Floretta, Freeda, Genevia, Genie, Glinda, Harvie, Imogen, Jule, Leni, Leonia, Lilla, Lilyan, Maisy, Melda, Minna, Nilsa, Odelia, Otilia, Ozella, Phebe, Pia, Romy, Roseline, Tilda, Tisa, Trudie, Valda, Velda, Velva, Veola, Verena, Vilma, Zadie, Zelie, Zita, Aleda, Aleece, Almedia, Aloma, Alvia, Alvira, Arva, Audelia, Audre, Carola, Cecila, Charlet, Corinn, Cricket, Daphane, Dinora, Elita, Eller, Elmyra, Elner, Elnor, Elynor, Esmee, Etter, Fancy, Fleda, Fredonia, Girtha, Hasel, Hazelle, Ilma, Jeimy, Josetta, Katja, Laurena, Lelar, Lella, Lemmie, Leva, Levina, Linna, Lissie, Lodema, Loula, Loura, Lova, Lovena, Lucetta, Lular, Mada, Marea, Merla, Nela, Nelli, Nelma, Netta, Odetta, Ofilia, Olla, Otila, Pearla, Posie, Rhetta, Roisin, Rubina, Sanna, Senia, Silva, Sonna, Syliva, Sylva, Tamsin, Theora, Thera, Toria, Valli, Venna, Vivia, Willma, Wylma, Yola, Zelia, Zooey, Adelae, Albirta, Almena, Almina, Antha, Berdina, Berma, Bonnye, Ceclia, Cosima, Dala, Edeline, Edell, Edyth, Effa, Eilish, Elice, Emelda, Ernesta, Esley, Evetta, Evora, Gizel, Gurtha, Gustava, Hedy, Hermie, Imogean, Ingris, Iraida, Irva, Isola, Jewelle, Larua, Lauria, Lillah, Liller, Linnaea, Liona, Lolah, Lucindy, Ludy, Maebel, Marca, Mayetta, Mirra, Nayda, Norie, Oneita, Opaline, Ople, Othelia, Ozelle, Rilda, Romey, Rosibel, Slyvia, Talma, Varina, Veneda, Veria, Verina, Vi, Viera, Dama, Dorismar, Edit, Neave, Ovida, Trixy, Adaleena, Adelma, Agusta, Ahnya, Albirda, Alvine, Amaly, Arwilda, Belky, Bitha, Breta, Catha, Ceci, Clevie, Clista, Dearie, Eltha, Ermel, Ermina, Etoy, Evanell, Evona, Felma, Fergie, Gusta, Hanni, Lavra, Lilias, Madolin, Nedda, Odesser, Odester, Olar, Olivet, Onetta, Ophia, Orabelle, Rosea, Sybel, Valta, Vicy, Vivyan, Welma, Winslet
Brothers: Felix, Hugo, Leo, Theo, Victor, Arnold, Bert, Clyde, Darwin, Edgar, Edmond, Edwin, Harvey, Hugh, Lewis, Max, Roland, Virgil, Warren, Alphonse, Bernie, Casper, Clement, Desi, Dexter, Drexel, Elbert, Elmo, Emil, Errol, Ervin, Fredric, Garfield, Gust, Horace, Irwin, Jules, Lenard, Linus, Lionel, Marlin, Marvell, Monty, Olen, Onyx, Tedd, Waldo, Walton, Warner, Wilmer, Wilton, Adler, Ansel, Armond, Chauncy, Cloyd, Edgard, Elmore, Elwin, Fenton, Gregor, Gustav, Isaak, Kasper, Leopold, Levin, Mattias, Norton, Orson, Osmar, Ossie, Otho, Ozzie, Telly, Theodor, Webster, Zeno, Agustus, Alban, Alferd, Alger, Almer, Ancel, Arville, Augie, Avel, Axell, Burr, Caspar, Conard, Dashel, Dolph, Edger, Edvin, Elridge, Ermal, Erven, Erving, Evertt, Ferd, Filbert, Gustaf, Halbert, Hammond, Harman, Homar, Hurbert, Ingram, Isak, Isidor, Ival, Jessup, Lear, Legrand, Leman, Luster, Moody, Olden, Oswin, Quenten, Quince, Rainier, Rube, Rubert, Ruddy, Symon, Theordore, Waldon, Winferd, Woodroe, Addis, Alben, Alvy, Anival, Anner, Arby, Bertin, Claxton, Elbridge, Elvert, Emmert, Ferman, Fernie, Fredi, Harwood, Herschell, Hurman, Nilson, Ollen, Owin, Phelix, Rayner, Raynor, Ruble, Teodor, Thelonious, Willmer, Wilver, Yosgart, Zeek, Albi, Elman, Gustin, Isador, Othal, Alberth, Almus, Alver, Amaurie, Ambers, Aran, Bazil, Daschel, Eddi, Edgel, Edker, Edman, Edwing, Elick, Elsworth, Emerik, Ermin, Evart, Ewart, Harace, Ilyan, Lewin, Lyal, Meeko, Merville, Nobel, Olman, Otilio, Ralphie, Remer, Rosser, Rubens, Samiel, Slyvester, Tillmon, Varick, Willett, Winfrey, Wyley
Names like Oscar
Names whose popularity has moved with Oscar's over the last 50 years.
