Oscar

Meaning: deer friend (traditional) · Origin: Irish · Gender: usually a boy's name

Origin & history

From Irish Oscar, the grandson of Fionn mac Cumhaill, popularised by James Macpherson's Ossian poems. Napoleon was godfather to a Swedish king named Oscar.

Famous people named Oscar

Oscar Wilde (writer)
Oscar Peterson (pianist)

Nicknames

Ozzy, Ossie

Variants & related names

Oskar, Óscar, Oscarr

Oscar name art

A free preview of a printable “Oscar” poster with its meaning — great for a nursery, a birthday or a gift.

Instant download, no subscription. Not printed or shipped — you get a high-resolution PNG to print at home or at a print shop.

FAQ

What does the name Oscar mean?

Oscar means “deer friend (traditional)”. It comes from Irish.

Is Oscar a popular name?

Oscar is a familiar boys' name in the UK and Australia. For exact current rankings, see the Office for National Statistics (England and Wales) and Australian state birth registries.

What are nicknames for Oscar?

Ozzy, Ossie.

What are other forms of Oscar?

Oskar, Óscar, Oscarr.

Similar names

Connor · Declan · Brayden · Rowan · Kevin · Finn

More: names starting with O · all boys' names

Sources: standard name etymology references (e.g. Behind the Name, Oxford Dictionary of First Names); popularity from US SSA and UK ONS baby-name data. Meanings of old names are often debated — where scholars disagree we say so.