What Does the Name Oskar Mean?
Oskar is a boy's name of Scandinavian/German (Old Norse or Old English/Irish) origin meaning “God's spear; (alt.) deer-lover.”
Updated June 2026
| Name | Oskar |
|---|---|
| Gender | male |
| Origin | Scandinavian/German (Old Norse or Old English/Irish) |
| Meaning | God's spear; (alt.) deer-lover |
| Variants | Oscar, Osgar, Oszkár, Óskar |
| Popularity | Highly popular across Sweden, Poland, Germany, and Norway; a frequent top-ranking boys' name in Scandinavia. |
The meaning and origin of Oskar
The name Oskar means “God's spear; (alt.) deer-lover” and has Scandinavian/German (Old Norse or Old English/Irish) origins. Oskar is generally derived from Old English/Old Norse Osgar, combining os ('god') and gar ('spear'); it was also popularized in Scandinavia via James Macpherson's Ossian poems from an Irish source meaning 'deer-friend'. It is the German and Nordic spelling of Oscar.
Variants and related names
Oskar is related to several other names you may recognize: Oscar, Osgar, Oszkár, Óskar. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.
How popular is the name Oskar?
Highly popular across Sweden, Poland, Germany, and Norway; a frequent top-ranking boys' name in Scandinavia.
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Open the name generator →Frequently asked questions
What does the name Oskar mean?+
The name Oskar means “God's spear; (alt.) deer-lover” and is of Scandinavian/German (Old Norse or Old English/Irish) origin.
What is the origin of the name Oskar?+
Oskar originates from Scandinavian/German (Old Norse or Old English/Irish).
Is Oskar a popular name?+
Yes — see the popularity note above for how Oskar has trended in the US over time.
Oskar by gender
More boy's names
Sources
- Behind the Name — Etymology and history of first names — Behind the Name
- US Social Security Administration — Popular baby names by year — Social Security Administration
- A Dictionary of First Names — Oxford Reference — Oxford University Press