Fun Facts About the Name Oscar
- An established favorite: Oscar held a place in the U.S. top 100 for 46 consecutive years, from 1880 through 1925.
- More than 214 thousand babies named Oscar: U.S. records list 214,153 babies given the name Oscar from 1880 through 2025. Even 1,070 girls received the name Oscar - about 1 girl for every 199 boys.
What Does the Name Oscar Mean?
Oscar is a masculine given name with two distinct origins. The Irish name Oscar is usually explained as Old Irish os 'deer, fawn' combined with cara 'friend'; the literal compound is 'deer friend,' often paraphrased as 'lover of deer.' The English name can also come from the Old English Osgar, formed from os 'god' and gar 'spear,' meaning 'god spear' or 'spear of God.' These derivations are separate: the Irish name belongs to Celtic naming, while Osgar belongs to the Germanic tradition. Which origin lies behind any particular modern use of Oscar is not always certain, and the Irish sense is the one most often attached to the legendary figure Oscar.
Oscar Name History & Origins
In Irish tradition, Oscar is a warrior of the Fianna in the Fenian Cycle. He is the son of Oisín and the grandson of Fionn mac Cumhaill. In the tale of the Battle of Gabhra (Cath Gabhra), he kills the high king Cairbre Lifechair and is himself fatally wounded. These stories were written down in medieval Irish manuscripts and passed through Gaelic storytelling. The name is old in Irish, but its earliest records are not precisely dated.
The Old English name Osgar is a separate formation and is recorded in England in the 10th century; Osgar, abbot of Abingdon, is one bearer. The name did not remain common in England after the Middle Ages. In the 18th century, James Macpherson's Ossian poems, presented as translations from Gaelic, included Oscar as the son of Ossian, and these works were widely read in Europe. The name was later borne by Oscar I of Sweden and Norway (born 1799) and by Oscar II, and it has been used in the Swedish royal family since then. In the English-speaking world, Oscar has been used since at least the 18th century; the Irish writer Oscar Wilde (1854 - 1900) is a well-known bearer. In Spanish, the name is usually written Óscar.
How Popular is the Name Oscar?
Oscar remained among the top 100 boy names in the U.S. from 1880 to 1925. Its highest annual birth count was in 2006, and people born that year turn 20 in 2026.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | #18,458 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2010 | #19,124 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 2009 | #14,841 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2007 | #13,610 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2006 | #16,609 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2005 | #14,137 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 2004 | #7,733 | 15 | 0.0008% |
| 2003 | #7,891 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 2002 | #6,620 | 17 | 0.0009% |
| 2001 | #11,791 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2000 | #11,517 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1999 | #5,845 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1998 | #8,431 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1997 | #5,807 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1996 | #6,645 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1995 | #5,383 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1994 | #4,343 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 1993 | #4,943 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 1992 | #5,206 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 1991 | #4,762 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 1990 | #4,476 | 22 | 0.0012% |
| 1989 | #7,870 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 1988 | #10,045 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1987 | #5,247 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1986 | #6,045 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1985 | #6,331 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1984 | #4,117 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1983 | #4,628 | 16 | 0.0010% |
| 1982 | #6,237 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1981 | #7,208 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1980 | #4,913 | 15 | 0.0009% |
| 1979 | #6,044 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1978 | #4,860 | 14 | 0.0009% |
| 1977 | #5,775 | 11 | 0.0007% |
| 1976 | #4,820 | 13 | 0.0009% |
| 1975 | #5,406 | 11 | 0.0008% |
| 1974 | #6,684 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1973 | #6,489 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1972 | #5,346 | 10 | 0.0007% |
| 1971 | #4,738 | 12 | 0.0007% |
| 1970 | #6,200 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1969 | #4,950 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1967 | #7,543 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1965 | #5,166 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1964 | #4,284 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1963 | #6,396 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1962 | #7,287 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1959 | #6,954 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 1958 | #5,261 | 7 | 0.0003% |
| 1957 | #4,800 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1956 | #5,778 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 1955 | #5,076 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1954 | #3,651 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1953 | #4,490 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1952 | #4,036 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1951 | #4,708 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1950 | #3,875 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 1949 | #5,103 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1948 | #4,119 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1947 | #4,249 | 8 | 0.0005% |
| 1946 | #3,379 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 1945 | #3,930 | 7 | 0.0005% |
| 1944 | #4,432 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1943 | #3,198 | 10 | 0.0007% |
| 1942 | #4,504 | 6 | 0.0004% |
| 1941 | #3,490 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1940 | #4,234 | 6 | 0.0005% |
| 1939 | #3,349 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1938 | #2,692 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1937 | #3,718 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1936 | #2,360 | 13 | 0.0012% |
| 1935 | #3,665 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1934 | #2,695 | 11 | 0.0011% |
| 1933 | #2,649 | 11 | 0.0011% |
| 1932 | #2,339 | 14 | 0.0013% |
| 1931 | #1,728 | 21 | 0.0020% |
| 1930 | #2,090 | 17 | 0.0015% |
| 1929 | #1,941 | 19 | 0.0017% |
| 1928 | #3,387 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1927 | #2,517 | 14 | 0.0012% |
| 1926 | #2,679 | 13 | 0.0011% |
| 1925 | #3,307 | 10 | 0.0008% |
| 1924 | #4,344 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1923 | #3,587 | 9 | 0.0007% |
| 1922 | #2,730 | 13 | 0.0011% |
| 1921 | #2,176 | 18 | 0.0015% |
| 1920 | #2,855 | 12 | 0.0010% |
| 1919 | #5,392 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1918 | #2,978 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1917 | #3,299 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1916 | #3,481 | 8 | 0.0008% |
| 1915 | #2,228 | 14 | 0.0014% |
| 1914 | #2,816 | 8 | 0.0011% |
| 1913 | #2,750 | 7 | 0.0011% |
| 1912 | #2,574 | 7 | 0.0013% |
| 1909 | #1,917 | 7 | 0.0020% |
| 1901 | #1,623 | 6 | 0.0025% |
| 1900 | #2,153 | 5 | 0.0017% |
| 1898 | #1,900 | 5 | 0.0019% |
| 1892 | #1,612 | 5 | 0.0024% |
| 1890 | #1,174 | 7 | 0.0037% |
| 1889 | #1,434 | 5 | 0.0028% |
| 1886 | #1,240 | 5 | 0.0035% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #223 | 1,620 | 0.0948% |
| 2024 | #217 | 1,656 | 0.0965% |
| 2023 | #216 | 1,701 | 0.0996% |
| 2022 | #201 | 1,890 | 0.1083% |
| 2021 | #226 | 1,697 | 0.0971% |
| 2020 | #214 | 1,766 | 0.1024% |
| 2019 | #205 | 1,891 | 0.1054% |
| 2018 | #206 | 1,956 | 0.1077% |
| 2017 | #192 | 2,048 | 0.1107% |
| 2016 | #176 | 2,261 | 0.1192% |
| 2015 | #181 | 2,299 | 0.1200% |
| 2014 | #184 | 2,321 | 0.1209% |
| 2013 | #178 | 2,242 | 0.1185% |
| 2012 | #177 | 2,197 | 0.1158% |
| 2011 | #162 | 2,378 | 0.1252% |
| 2010 | #147 | 2,665 | 0.1389% |
| 2009 | #131 | 3,117 | 0.1572% |
| 2008 | #120 | 3,563 | 0.1747% |
| 2007 | #121 | 3,548 | 0.1710% |
| 2006 | #118 | 3,601 | 0.1752% |
| 2005 | #117 | 3,461 | 0.1733% |
| 2004 | #123 | 3,348 | 0.1687% |
| 2003 | #122 | 3,301 | 0.1671% |
| 2002 | #120 | 3,233 | 0.1665% |
| 2001 | #122 | 3,195 | 0.1645% |
| 2000 | #122 | 3,178 | 0.1618% |
| 1999 | #116 | 3,126 | 0.1628% |
| 1998 | #129 | 3,006 | 0.1573% |
| 1997 | #127 | 2,970 | 0.1576% |
| 1996 | #125 | 3,000 | 0.1584% |
| 1995 | #130 | 2,730 | 0.1434% |
| 1994 | #122 | 2,847 | 0.1474% |
| 1993 | #123 | 2,847 | 0.1452% |
| 1992 | #130 | 2,587 | 0.1295% |
| 1991 | #134 | 2,444 | 0.1210% |
| 1990 | #135 | 2,328 | 0.1133% |
| 1989 | #153 | 1,965 | 0.0982% |
| 1988 | #160 | 1,733 | 0.0905% |
| 1987 | #163 | 1,661 | 0.0890% |
| 1986 | #169 | 1,572 | 0.0854% |
| 1985 | #169 | 1,592 | 0.0861% |
| 1984 | #178 | 1,421 | 0.0787% |
| 1983 | #183 | 1,370 | 0.0764% |
| 1982 | #175 | 1,486 | 0.0819% |
| 1981 | #171 | 1,464 | 0.0817% |
| 1980 | #176 | 1,396 | 0.0782% |
| 1979 | #184 | 1,311 | 0.0761% |
| 1978 | #179 | 1,311 | 0.0798% |
| 1977 | #181 | 1,274 | 0.0775% |
| 1976 | #184 | 1,231 | 0.0784% |
| 1975 | #184 | 1,236 | 0.0792% |
| 1974 | #189 | 1,199 | 0.0763% |
| 1973 | #203 | 1,068 | 0.0685% |
| 1972 | #205 | 1,111 | 0.0685% |
| 1971 | #220 | 1,066 | 0.0603% |
| 1970 | #225 | 1,043 | 0.0561% |
| 1969 | #229 | 1,005 | 0.0562% |
| 1968 | #238 | 902 | 0.0519% |
| 1967 | #234 | 934 | 0.0536% |
| 1966 | #229 | 943 | 0.0529% |
| 1965 | #232 | 989 | 0.0532% |
| 1964 | #243 | 1,000 | 0.0502% |
| 1963 | #235 | 1,021 | 0.0503% |
| 1962 | #245 | 1,007 | 0.0487% |
| 1961 | #245 | 1,041 | 0.0490% |
| 1960 | #245 | 1,068 | 0.0501% |
| 1959 | #243 | 1,085 | 0.0508% |
| 1958 | #237 | 1,069 | 0.0504% |
| 1957 | #217 | 1,201 | 0.0557% |
| 1956 | #217 | 1,133 | 0.0536% |
| 1955 | #211 | 1,154 | 0.0560% |
| 1954 | #197 | 1,268 | 0.0622% |
| 1953 | #203 | 1,196 | 0.0606% |
| 1952 | #203 | 1,087 | 0.0559% |
| 1951 | #199 | 1,067 | 0.0567% |
| 1950 | #192 | 1,103 | 0.0616% |
| 1949 | #186 | 1,124 | 0.0634% |
| 1948 | #184 | 1,098 | 0.0626% |
| 1947 | #186 | 1,111 | 0.0607% |
| 1946 | #182 | 1,017 | 0.0626% |
| 1945 | #176 | 939 | 0.0698% |
| 1944 | #178 | 911 | 0.0668% |
| 1943 | #169 | 1,073 | 0.0752% |
| 1942 | #172 | 958 | 0.0694% |
| 1941 | #165 | 1,021 | 0.0831% |
| 1940 | #167 | 937 | 0.0808% |
| 1939 | #159 | 1,000 | 0.0903% |
| 1938 | #158 | 1,024 | 0.0923% |
| 1937 | #154 | 988 | 0.0926% |
| 1936 | #153 | 1,008 | 0.0972% |
| 1935 | #143 | 1,091 | 0.1048% |
| 1934 | #143 | 1,095 | 0.1060% |
| 1933 | #142 | 1,111 | 0.1121% |
| 1932 | #138 | 1,255 | 0.1202% |
| 1931 | #129 | 1,334 | 0.1283% |
| 1930 | #124 | 1,467 | 0.1337% |
| 1929 | #117 | 1,482 | 0.1378% |
| 1928 | #122 | 1,464 | 0.1322% |
| 1927 | #113 | 1,635 | 0.1451% |
| 1926 | #105 | 1,715 | 0.1544% |
| 1925 | #99 | 1,754 | 0.1572% |
| 1924 | #99 | 1,819 | 0.1606% |
| 1923 | #96 | 1,880 | 0.1715% |
| 1922 | #92 | 2,007 | 0.1844% |
| 1921 | #92 | 1,978 | 0.1796% |
| 1920 | #90 | 2,006 | 0.1885% |
| 1919 | #88 | 1,991 | 0.2031% |
| 1918 | #87 | 2,113 | 0.2085% |
| 1917 | #87 | 1,961 | 0.2119% |
| 1916 | #86 | 1,916 | 0.2153% |
| 1915 | #88 | 1,788 | 0.2107% |
| 1914 | #77 | 1,553 | 0.2372% |
| 1913 | #76 | 1,249 | 0.2437% |
| 1912 | #73 | 1,157 | 0.2691% |
| 1911 | #68 | 636 | 0.2815% |
| 1910 | #73 | 505 | 0.2600% |
| 1909 | #70 | 459 | 0.2799% |
| 1908 | #65 | 476 | 0.3084% |
| 1907 | #59 | 483 | 0.3290% |
| 1906 | #64 | 412 | 0.3094% |
| 1905 | #56 | 436 | 0.3295% |
| 1904 | #54 | 442 | 0.3450% |
| 1903 | #51 | 427 | 0.3581% |
| 1902 | #55 | 397 | 0.3237% |
| 1901 | #47 | 422 | 0.3964% |
| 1900 | #47 | 563 | 0.3742% |
| 1899 | #46 | 447 | 0.4209% |
| 1898 | #41 | 546 | 0.4450% |
| 1897 | #37 | 543 | 0.4816% |
| 1896 | #41 | 539 | 0.4508% |
| 1895 | #39 | 549 | 0.4677% |
| 1894 | #34 | 601 | 0.5191% |
| 1893 | #33 | 574 | 0.5110% |
| 1892 | #33 | 634 | 0.5195% |
| 1891 | #32 | 551 | 0.5445% |
| 1890 | #29 | 628 | 0.5656% |
| 1889 | #32 | 572 | 0.5173% |
| 1888 | #31 | 647 | 0.5354% |
| 1887 | #29 | 574 | 0.5660% |
| 1886 | #26 | 645 | 0.5822% |
| 1885 | #28 | 623 | 0.5779% |
| 1884 | #30 | 615 | 0.5374% |
| 1883 | #27 | 607 | 0.5802% |
| 1882 | #28 | 625 | 0.5498% |
| 1881 | #28 | 530 | 0.5261% |
| 1880 | #29 | 544 | 0.4924% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
