Oscar

At a Glance

Meaning

A blend of two separate old names: Gaelic 'deer-friend' and Old English/Norse 'god's spear'

Origin

Irish, Old English

Gender

Boy

Pronunciation

AHS-kurListen

Oscar is a boy's name with a vintage style, rooted in both Irish and Old English tradition. You may see it defined as "divine spear," but that's only half the story — Wiktionary documents Oscar as a fusion of two unrelated names: Gaelic 'deer-friend' (os + cara) alongside the Old English/Norse 'god's spear.' It's pronounced AHS-kur.

Meaning & Origin of Oscar

Meaning: A blend of two separate old names: Gaelic 'deer-friend' and Old English/Norse 'god's spear'.

Origin: Irish, Old English.

A common claim: Oscar means 'divine spear' Actually: That's only half the story: Oscar is actually a blend of two unrelated names — Old English/Norse 'god's spear' and Gaelic 'deer-friend' (os + cara).

Source: Wiktionary, Wikipedia.

How to Pronounce Oscar

Popularity of Oscar

Oscar peaked at #26 in 1886 with 645 babies given the name, and by 2024 it sat at #217 with a count of 1,656 — lower in rank but higher in raw numbers, reflecting U.S. birth records spanning 1880 to 2024.

Names Like Oscar

These names share Oscar’s style, era or origin.

• Abram
• Bennett
• Daniel
• Elijah
• Ezekiel
• Jack

FAQ

What does the name Oscar mean?

A blend of two separate old names: Gaelic ‘deer-friend’ and Old English/Norse ‘god’s spear’. (Source: Wiktionary)

How do you pronounce Oscar?

Oscar is pronounced AHS-kur (IPA: /ˈɑːskər/).

Is Oscar a popular name right now?

Oscar peaked at #26 in 1886 and is ranked #217 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 1880–2024.)

Make Oscar Name Art

Free printable nursery art for Oscar, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.