Oscar is one of the most popular baby names in the UK, ranked #9 in 2024. With 2,747 babies given this name, your child will likely be the only Oscar in their class — but in a school of 600, expect around ~1.4 others.
Origin & Meaning
Norse/Irish — Divine spear; champion warrior
🔥
UK Rank 2024
#9
US Rank #217
About the Name Oscar
Oscar is holding steady in the rankings at #9. It reached its peak of #7 in 2013 and has maintained consistent levels since — the hallmark of a name with lasting rather than trend-driven appeal. The name has been a consistent presence in UK records since 1996. It has spent 26 of the last 29 years inside the UK top 100 — a mark of enduring mainstream appeal.
Etymologically, Oscar comes from Norse/Irish, where it means "Divine spear; champion warrior". Names with strong etymological stories tend to age well — they carry weight beyond fashion cycles.
Oscar is distinctive enough that your child will likely be the only one in both their class and their school — standing out on every register.
In the US it sits at #217 — notably more popular in the UK than across the Atlantic.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the name Oscar
Probably not in their specific class, but possible. With around 2,747 UK babies named Oscar per year, your child will likely be the only Oscar in his class. In a school of 600, however, expect to find around ~1.4 others.
Oscar has held a stable position around #9 for several years. It reached its recorded peak of #7 in 2013 and has maintained consistent levels since — suggesting lasting rather than trend-driven appeal.
The name Oscar has Norse/Irish origins and means "Divine spear; champion warrior". Names with clear etymological roots tend to age well — they carry weight beyond fashion cycles and give children a story to tell about their name.
Notable people named Oscar include: Oscar Ukonu — Oscar Ukonu is a Nigerian ballpoint pen artist based in Lagos, Nigeria.; Oscar (footballer, born 1991) — Oscar dos Santos Emboaba Júnior, known mononymously as Oscar, is a Brazilian former professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder.; Oscar Cluff — Oscar Hogarth Cluff is an Australian college basketball player for the Purdue Boilermakers of the Big Ten Conference..
Oscar appears in the US top 500 at #217 in 2024 — moderately popular in America, though less so than in the UK.
2,747
UK babies named Oscar (2024)
~0.1
Expected classmates with this name (class of 28)
~1.4
In a school of 600
→ Stable
Rank change (last 5 years)
🏫 Who else is in the room?
In a typical UK class of 28, highlighted children share the name Oscar
Likely around 1 other Oscar in the class
UK Popularity (1996–2024)
Rank and birth count · ONS official data
US Popularity (2020–2024)
Rank · SSA official data
✨ Similar names to Oscar
Names with a similar style — each with their own classroom story
Oscar dos Santos Emboaba Júnior, known mononymously as Oscar, is a Brazilian former professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder. Oscar began his career at São Paulo, and in 2009, he went to court against the club due to irregularities in his contract.
Oscar Hogarth Cluff is an Australian college basketball player for the Purdue Boilermakers of the Big Ten Conference. He previously played for the Cochise College Apaches, Washington State Cougars, and South Dakota State Jackrabbits.
Oscar Leonard Carl Pistorius is a South African double amputee, former professional sprinter, and convicted murderer. He was the 10th athlete to compete at both the Paralympic Games and Olympic Games.
Oscar II was King of Sweden from 1872 until his death in 1907 and King of Norway from 1872 to 1905. Oscar was the son of King Oscar I and Queen Josephine.
Óscar Arístides de la Renta y Fiallo, known professionally as Óscar de la Renta, was a Dominican fashion designer. Born in Santo Domingo, he was trained by Cristóbal Balenciaga and Antonio del Castillo.
Oscar Joseph Slater was the victim of a notorious miscarriage of justice in Scotland. Wrongly convicted of murder and sentenced to death, he was freed after almost two decades of hard labour at Scotland’s HM Prison Peterhead through the efforts of multiple journalists, lawyers, and writers, including Sherlock Holmes author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.