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At a Glance: Name: Oberon – Meaning: elf king / fairy king – Origin: Old French (from Middle High German) – Gender: Boy – Pronunciation: OH-ber-on
Oberon is pronounced OH-ber-on, and it comes from Old French by way of Middle High German, where it means elf king or fairy king — a fitting choice if you're drawn to names with a storybook, otherworldly pull. You might have come across the claim that it means 'noble bear,' but the actual trail runs through Auberon and Alberich back to 'elf' plus 'ruler,' not bear. There's a free-spirited, adventurous, wandering-through-the-woods feel to it that sets it apart from more conventional boy names.
Meaning & Origin of Oberon
Meaning: Elf king / fairy king.
Origin: Old French (from Middle High German).
A common claim: Oberon is often said to mean 'noble bear.' Actually: Oberon doesn't mean 'noble bear.' The name traces through Old French Auberon/Alberon to Middle High German Alberich, meaning 'elf' plus 'ruler' — i.e., 'elf king.'
Source: Wiktionary.
How to Pronounce Oberon
Phonetic: OH-ber-on IPA: /ˈoʊbərɑːn/
Popularity of Oberon
Oberon has stayed rare in Social Security data from 2007 through 2024, reaching its high point in 2021 at rank #3223 with 37 babies given the name, before dropping back to rank #3744 in 2024 with 30.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration birth-name data, 2007–2024.
Make Oberon Name Art
Free printable nursery art for Oberon, pre-loaded below — pick a layout, palette, and font, then download a print-ready PNG.
Names With a Similar Story
Derived from shared style, era, and origin data (or, for names we have no style data for, a similar Social Security popularity trajectory) — not a hand-picked list.
FAQ
What does the name Oberon mean?
Elf king / fairy king. (Source: Wiktionary, https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Oberon)
How do you pronounce Oberon?
Oberon is pronounced OH-ber-on (IPA: /ˈoʊbərɑːn/).
Is Oberon a popular name right now?
Oberon peaked at #3223 in 2021 and is ranked #3744 as of 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 2007–2024.)
📊 How popular is Oberon? See the full popularity history, trend data, and ranking since 1880 with our free Baby Name Popularity Checker.
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