Oscar - Names
Meaning of the name Oscar
Gender:
Male
Meaning:
deer friend (from Irish Gaelic: os ‘deer’ and cara ‘friend’),
God’s spear (from Old English: os ‘god’ and gar ‘spear’)
History & etymology:
There are two possible origins of the name Oscar.
It could have been composed from Irish Gaelic words: os ‘deer’ and cara ‘friend’. However, the name’s roots might reach even further back: to the Old Norse name Ássegir, meaning ‘god’s spear’: from áss ‘god’, geirr ‘spear’. Ássegir gave rise to its Old English equivalent Osgar (os ‘god’ and gar ‘spear’) as well as its Scandinavian cognates Asger/Ansgar, whis are in use in, e.g., Norway, Sweden and Iceland up to the present day.
The earliest patron saint of the name, as well as the patron of Scandinavia, was St. Ansgar also known as ‘the Apostle of the North’. He was a 9th century noble-born monk who devoted his life to missionary work in Sweden and Denmark. His greatest achievement was founding the first Christian Church in Sweden.
St. Ansgar’s featst day is celebrated on 3rd February.
Alternative spellings & nicknames:
Oskar, Osgar
Related names: Ansgar, Asger
Similar names in other languages & name days:
Czech Republic
1st August: Oskar
Finland
1st December: Oskari
France
3rd February: Oscar
Germany
3rd February: Ansgar
Hungary
31st July: Oszkár
Poland
3rd February: Oskar
Sweden
4th February: Ansgar
1st December: Oskar
USA
5th August: Oscar
Famous people named Oscar:
Oscar I of Sweden (1799 - 1859) - King of Sweden and Norway
Oscar II of Sweden (1829 - 1907) - King of Sweden and Norway
Oscar Arias (1940-) - former President of Costa Rica
Oscar De La Hoya (1973-) - American boxer
Oscar Isaac (1979-) - Guatemalan- American actor
Oscar Lopez (1973-) - Cuban fashion designer
Oscar Niemeyer (1907 - 2012) - Brazilian architect
Oscar Perez (1973-) - Mexican soccer player
Oscar Pistorius (1986-) - South African runner
Oscar Robertson (1938-) - American basketball player
Oscar dos Santos (1991-) - Brazilian soccer player
Oscar Wilde (1954 - 1900) - Irish playwright and novelist
Fun facts:
Popularity (2015)
USA: 181st
England and Wales: 10th
Australia: 25th
New Zealand: 32nd
Ireland: 45th
Northern Ireland: 40th
Scotland: 27th
Belgium: 17th
Denmark: 4th
France: 74th
Netherlands: 113th
Norway: 44th
Sweden: 4th
Lucky colors: white, blue
Lucky stone: Diamond
Ruling planet: Uranus
Characteristics: friendly, gallant, generous, kind, patient
1. Napoleon chose the name Oscar for the middle name of his godson and later the king of Sweden, Oscar I.
2. Oscar is the well-known name of a statue given as a prize to the greatest talents of the film industry.