Oscar, of Latin origin, means "spear" or "divine spear." It's a name with strong historical roots, popularized by King Oscar II of Sweden and Norway during the 19th century. The name gained further fame through notable figures like Oscar Wilde, the Irish poet and playwright known for his wit and flamboyance, and Oscar Schindler, the German businessman who risked his life to save more than a thousand Jewish people during the Holocaust. Both of these Oscars have left significant marks on history and culture. The name has also been used in literature and films, including "The Odd Couple" by Neil Simon and "Oscar and the Lady in Pink" by Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt.
The name Oscar has seen varied popularity over the years, with a significant spike occurring around World War I and continuing through the late 1930s. From the 1880s to the early 1900s, the number of births named Oscar ranged from 5 to 7 per year. However, starting in 1914, there was a notable increase, with 8 births that year and peaking at 24 births in 1994. After this peak, popularity of the name Oscar began to decline, with only 5 or fewer births occurring annually since 2010. Overall, between 1886 and 2015, there were a total of 1070 babies named Oscar born in those years according to these statistics.