Oslo

At a Glance

Meaning

Most likely 'meadow of the gods' (Old Norse áss, 'god/Æsir' + ló, 'meadow'); a less-favored theory reads the first element as 'hill/ridge'

Origin

Norwegian (Old Norse)

Gender

Neutral

Pronunciation

OZ-lohListen

Oslo is a Norwegian name, pronounced OZ-loh, used for both boys and girls. You may come across the claim that it means 'the meadow at the foot of a hill,' but that's the less likely of two theories — the favored reading, from Old Norse áss ('god') and ló ('meadow'), is 'meadow of the gods.' It shows up on lists alongside bohemian, globe-trotting, and nature-inspired names.

Meaning & Origin of Oslo

Meaning: Most likely 'meadow of the gods' (Old Norse áss, 'god/Æsir' + ló, 'meadow'); a less-favored theory reads the first element as 'hill/ridge'.

Origin: Norwegian (Old Norse).

A common claim: Oslo means 'the meadow at the foot of a hill' Actually: The more likely explanation is 'meadow of the gods' (Old Norse áss, 'god/Æsir' + ló, 'meadow'); reading the first part as 'hill/ridge' is a less-favored theory.

Source: Wiktionary.

How to Pronounce Oslo

Popularity of Oslo

Oslo has stayed rare in U.S. birth records from 2007 to 2024, reaching its high point of #1767 in 2022 with 94 babies before falling to #1922 in 2024 with 82.

Names Like Oslo

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

• Daley
• Indra
• Kea
• Tala
• Ainsley
• Ash

FAQ

What does the name Oslo mean?

Most likely ‘meadow of the gods’ (Old Norse áss, ‘god/Æsir’ + ló, ‘meadow’); a less-favored theory reads the first element as ‘hill/ridge’. (Source: Wiktionary)

How do you pronounce Oslo?

Oslo is pronounced OZ-loh (IPA: /ˈɑːzloʊ/).

Is Oslo a popular name right now?

Oslo is near its all-time peak (#1767 in 2022), ranked #1922 in 2024. (U.S. Social Security Administration data, 2007–2024.)

Make Oslo Name Art

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