Oscar is an extremely popular boys' name in England & Wales, ranking #8 in 2025 with 2,798 recorded births. The name reached its all-time peak in 2013 with 4,511 births ranking #7. Since 1996, the popularity has increased by 811.4%. In 2025, approximately 1 in every 97 boys born was named Oscar. STABLE Recent data shows the name is currently stable.
Oscar is a long-standing classic with a strong, handsome sound. Its older meaning is interpreted in different ways, but friend of deer is one of the best-known traditional explanations.
The name appears in Irish legend through Ossianic stories and later spread widely across Europe. Its long use across languages has helped it feel familiar and substantial.