Boy
Old Norse / Irish Gaelic
2 syllables
Oscar
OS-ker
/ˈɒs.kər/
"God spear" — a warrior's name from both Viking and Celtic legend
Oscar has dual origins: from the Old Norse Ass-geir meaning God spear (ass = god, geirr = spear), or from the Irish Gaelic Oscar meaning champion warrior or deer lover. In Irish mythology, Oscar was the son of Ossian and grandson of Fionn mac Cumhaill — one of the Fianna's greatest warriors. Oscar is experiencing a strong revival in the US, UK, and especially Scandinavia.
Quick Facts
Letters5
SyllablesOs · car
GenderBoy
OriginOld Norse / Irish Gaelic
Root WordOss kjarr / Oscar
MeaningGod spear, deer lover
PopularityCommon
Peak Year2019
Trend
↑ Rising
Name DayFebruary 3
Nicknames
OzOzzie
About the Name Oscar
Oscar means God spear in Old Norse (from as + geirr) or dear lover in Irish Gaelic. Both traditions produced the same name through separate linguistic paths.
Oscar is experiencing a strong revival in the US and is in the top 10 in Sweden, Ireland, and Spain. In English-speaking countries it has risen significantly since 2010.
The nickname Oscar for the Academy Award statuette reportedly dates to 1939. One story attributes it to Academy librarian Margaret Herrick who said the statuette looked like her uncle Oscar, though the exact origin is debated.
Oscar James, Oscar Hugo, Oscar Felix, and Oscar Thomas are all strong and naturally flowing combinations.
Oscars are often described as witty, creative, and strong-willed — the name carries Oscar Wilde's intellectual brilliance and the Oscar award's prestige.
Oscar is very popular in Scandinavia, where it derives from the Old Norse Ansgar or Asgeir. It is also used across the English-speaking world and in Spanish-speaking countries.
Personality of Oscar
Perceived character traits commonly associated with people named Oscar
Creativity
80%
Elegance
84%
Independence
84%
Intelligence
82%
Strength
86%
Warmth
78%
Famous People Named Oscar
O
Oscar Wilde
Irish playwright and wit, The Importance of Being Earnest
O
Oscar the Grouch
Beloved Sesame Street character living in a trash can
O
Oscar (award)
The Academy Award statuette, nicknamed Oscar since the 1930s
Middle Names for Oscar
Beautiful combinations that flow well with Oscar
Oscar James
Oscar Hugo
Oscar Felix
Oscar Thomas
Oscar Grey
Oscar William
Oscar Leo
Oscar Fox
Oscar August
Oscar River
Names Similar to Oscar
Similar Sound
Similar Meaning
Sibling Name Ideas
History of Oscar
900 AD
Oscar used in Old Norse and Celtic cultures as a warrior name
1854
Oscar Wilde born in Dublin; his brilliance makes Oscar synonymous with wit
1929
The Academy Awards debuts; the statuette reportedly nicknamed Oscar
2015
Oscar begins a strong revival in the US and UK as vintage names return to fashion
Numerology & Symbolism of Oscar
2
Destiny Number
Sum of all letters
7
Soul Urge
Sum of vowels
♍
Zodiac Affinity
Leo
7
Lucky Number
Personal power digit
🎨
Lucky Color
Gold
💎
Lucky Stone
Tiger's Eye
🌸
Lucky Flower
Marigold
Oscar Around the World
How Oscar is written in different languages and scripts
أوسكار
Arabic
オスカー
Japanese
Оскар
Russian
오스카
Korean
奥斯卡
Chinese
Όσκαρ
Greek
ऑस्कर
Hindi
אוֹסְקַר
Hebrew
Looking for Name Ideas?
Explore our name inspiration guides