Oscar

Oscar is a male first name, with roots found in both Nordic and Irish traditions. It derives from the Old Norse name Ásgeirr, which is composed of the elements as meaning "Ase, god, deity" and geirr meaning "spear, throwing spear." Thus, Oscar means "the spear of the gods" or "the spear of God."

What does the name Oscar mean?

The name Oscar has both Nordic and Irish origins. It derives from the Old Norse Ásgeirr, where as means "Ase, god, deity" and geirr means "spear, throwing spear." In Old Irish, the word oscara means "the one who loves the deer," while oscar in Middle Irish means "stranger, enemy." However, these Celtic meanings are less commonly known. Oscar is an internationally recognized first name, particularly common in English and Scandinavian-speaking countries. In the Spanish and Portuguese variants, the name is written as Óscar, while in Germany, the form Oskar is prevalent. The boys' name was less popular in Germany for a long time, especially in the 1970s and 1980s, possibly due to the association with the character "Oscar the Grouch" from the popular children's series Sesame Street. However, in recent years, the use of the name Oscar/Oskar has increased again.

Where does the name Oscar come from?

The name Oscar has its etymology in the Old Norse Ásgeirr, which is composed of the words "as" (Ase, god, deity) and "geirr" (spear, throwing spear). Alternatively, it is also derived from Celtic, where "oscara" means "the one who loves the deer" and "oscar" means "stranger, enemy." It appears in various languages such as English, French, Irish, and Italian.

How do you pronounce Oscar?

The pronunciation of Oscar is clear and structured. In German, the name is usually pronounced as "Os-car" [ˈɔskaʁ]. The dark vowel in the first syllable gives the sound a certain depth, while the consonant combination in the center creates stability. Oscar radiates a mix of classic elegance and modern flair - powerful, present, and memorable.

When is the name day of Oscar?

The name day for Oscar is celebrated on February 3rd in honor of Saint Ansgar of Bremen, also known as the "Apostle of the North."

Popularity

In Germany, Oscar is among the popular first names. The name currently ranks 158th on the list of the most common male baby names. Its best placement was in 2016, when it reached 90th place. Over the last ten years, Oscar has been given as a first name about 5,700 times, placing it 146th in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 142nd.

Nicknames & pet names

Calli / Car / Carli / Carlinnio / Carlito / Carlos / Caros / Occi / Ocki / Oggi / Os / Osc / Oscarlinnio / Oscarlito / Oscel / Osci / Oscie / Oscimo / Osdepp / Osi / Oso / Oss / Osse / Ossel / Ossi / Otsche / Otschi / Ottocar / Ozzy

Similar first names

Famous people

• Carl Oscar August Erickson (American cartoonist)
• Fabian Oscar Wien (German actor)
• Oscar A. H. Schmitz (German writer)
• Oscar Adrian Ahumada (Argentinian footballer)
• Oscar Brefeld (German botanist)
• Oscar Carlén (handball player)
• Oscar Climent (Spanish motorcycle racer)
• Oscar Colorado (character from Ashita no Nadja)
• Oscar de la Hoya (boxer)
• Oscar de la Renta (Spanish fashion designer)
• Oscar Dos Santos Emboaba Junior (footballer from Norway)
• Oscar Emmanuel Peterson (Canadian jazz musician)
• Oscar Fraley (American writer)
• Oscar Fredrick Dronjak (guitarist)
• Oscar Geier (Swiss bobsledder)
• Oscar Ghiglia (guitarist from Italy)
• Oscar Goldman (American mathematician)
• Óscar Gonzáles Gutiérrez Rubio (wrestler)
• Oscar Hedman (Swedish ice hockey player)
• Oscar Heiler (German actor and comedian)