Oscar
deer lover (Gaelic) or spear of the gods (Old Norse)
Oscar is a spanish / english boy name in the Philippines. In the civil registry as of May 2021 it is number 142, with 61,073 records. It has 2 syllables.
The May 2021 total includes the name written with JR: 49,642 as Oscar, and 11,431 as Oscar Jr.
Origin and meaning
deer lover (Gaelic) or spear of the gods (Old Norse)
Oscar derives from either the Gaelic elements 'os' (deer) and 'cara' (friend/lover) popularized by James Macpherson's Ossian poems, or from the Germanic name Ansgar meaning 'god's spear'. In the Philippines, it was adopted through Spanish Catholic influence and continued in usage through the American colonial era, making it a classic traditional masculine name.
Oscar entered Philippine naming traditions primarily during the Spanish colonial era as the Hispanicized form Óscar (derived from Gaelic or Germanic roots), and its popularity was reinforced throughout the American period due to its presence in the English-speaking world.
Name character
In the Philippines
Frequently shortened to 'Oca', 'Crying/Car', or 'Boy' among family. Commonly given to older generations and still retained as a traditional, formal first name.
Related forms
- Óscar Spanish
- Oscar French
- Óscar Portuguese
- Oscar Italian
Would your family give Oscar?
Mark it if your family would give this first name. The count is for 2026 on this site. It is not the civil registry, and it is not babies registered in 2024. One browser can choose a name once in the year.
No family on this site has marked Oscar for 2026 yet.
Oscar with common surname pairs
Each pair is a mother's maiden surname plus a father's surname. The number is the sound-fit score for this first name.
Related boy names
About the name Oscar
How do I use Oscar with two Filipino surnames?
Oscar is the given name. The full name is Oscar + mother's maiden surname + father's surname. Score a pair from a combination page or the homepage search.
Is Oscar a common boy name in the Philippines?
In the civil registry as of May 2021, Oscar is number 142, with 61,073 records. That is not the 2024 birth list, and it does not say the name is a better choice. How it sounds with both family surnames is a separate score.