Oskar

Oskar means "the spear of the gods" or "the spear of God." The name originates from the Old Norse name Ásgeirr, which is composed of the elements as for "Ase," "god" and geirr for "spear," "javelin."

What does the name Oskar mean?

Oskar means "the spear of the gods" or "the spear of God." This name has its roots in the Old Norse Ásgeirr, which is composed of the Old Norse terms as for "Ase," "god," "deity" and geirr for "spear," "javelin." Variants such as Asgeirr and Asgeir can also be found today in the Nordic countries. The Old High German form is Ansgar. In the English-speaking world, the name is spelled Oscar with a "c," while the Spanish and Portuguese variant is Óscar. In Germany, Oskar was quite popular in the first half of the 20th century, but fell out of favor in the 1970s and 1980s as it became strongly associated with the character "Oscar the Grouch" from the popular children's series Sesame Street. However, in recent years, the name has experienced a renaissance and is being given more frequently again.

Where does the name Oskar come from?

The name Oskar derives from the Old Norse name Ásgeirr, which is formed from the Old Norse words "as" for "Ase, god, deity" and "geirr" for "spear, javelin." Its origins are both Old Germanic and Old High German as well as Old Norse. The languages in which this name is common include German, Swedish, and other Scandinavian languages.

How do you pronounce Oskar?

The name Oskar has a distinctive two-syllable structure. In the German pronunciation, it is usually rendered as "Os-kar" [ˈɔskaʁ]. The name begins with a clear, open "o," which conveys a certain fullness of sound. The combination of consonants in the middle provides a strong structure. Oskar conveys a strong and down-to-earth impression - clear, tradition-conscious, and present.

When is the name day of Oskar?

The name day of Oskar is celebrated on February 3, the feast day of Ansgar of Bremen, who is also known as the "Apostle of the North."

Popularity

The masculine name Oskar was already established in Germany in the late 19th century and mostly ranked between the top 30 and top 60 from 1880 to 1910. In the 1910s and 1920s, it solidified its position in the top 40 to top 60. Around 1930, Oskar remained in the top 60 but gradually lost popularity over the years. Between the 1940s and 1960s, the name slowly fell out of the top ranks and entered the range between top 90 and top 250.

Nicknames & pet names

DonOsko / Frechwieoskar / Hasi / Hoscar / Hoss / Kalli / Kar / Kari / Karlchen / Karli / Karre / Knilch / Kocar / Nascar / Ochs / Ocki / Oemmel / Oka / Oki / Osar / Oschel / Oschi / Osi / Osje / Osk / Oskarchen / Oskario / Oskarito / Oskarius / Oskarlino / Oskarlito / Oskarrita / Oski / Oskiboy / Oskilein / Oskimausi / Oskimo / Oskimoski / Osko / Oskra / Oso / Oss / Ossa / Osse / Ossel / Ossi / Ossi-Bossi / Ossobucco / Otze / Oz / Ozzy / Schifferle / Skari / Stinkeoscar

Similar first names

Famous people

• Heinz Oskar Wuttig (German writer)
• Jakob Frans Oskar Wasastjerna (Finnish writer)
• Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde (Irish writer)
• Oscar Niemeyer (Brazilian architect)
• Oskar (children's book character from "The Little Dragon Coconut")
• Oskar Aichinger (Austrian jazz musician)
• Oskar Appelius (architect from Germany)
• Oskar Barthold (Australian painter)
• Oskar Baum (writer from Germany)
• Oskar the Family Man (comic book character)
• Oskar Eriksson (Swedish curler)
• Oskar Freiwirth-Lützow (German painter)
• Oskar Fronz (Austrian theater actor)
• Oskar Gundermann (doctor from Germany)
• Oskar Hagemann (painter from Germany)
• Oskar Hauser (physicist from Germany)
• Oskar Kallas (Estonian linguist)
• Oskar Klingner (German volleyball player)
• Oskar Kokoschka (painter)
• Oskar Kreibich (German painter)