Oscar is a moderately popular boys' name in United States, ranking #176 in 2016 with 2,261 recorded births. The name reached its all-time peak in 2006 with 3,601 births ranking #118. Since 1996, the popularity has decreased by 24.6%. In 2016, approximately 1 in every 839 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.