Oswald

Meaning: God's power, or divine rule
Origin: Old English

Nicknames: Ozzie, Ozzy

Boy's name · #2161 in the US (2025) · Timeless

Popularity over time

Oswald holds its lane: charted since 1880 and rarely far from where it stands today (#2161 in 2025). About 4,400 boys have carried it along the way. In all that time it has never once missed a year of the national records.

Across the states

See where Oswald is more common.

Appears in 2020-2025 birth records of 2 states. See the full state-by-state map on this page.

Around the world

See how Oswald ranks in other countries and regions.

#909 in Scotland (2025) · #1,112 in England & Wales (2025) · #1,693 in Austria (2025) · #3,127 in Canada (2024).

Famous Oswalds

Oswald Spengler — German historian and philosopher (1880–1936)
Oswald Mosley — British aristocrat and fascist politician (1896–1980)
Oswald Avery — Canadian-born American physician and medical researcher
Oswald Gracias — Catholic cardinal
Oswald Achenbach — German artist (1827–1905)

As a surname

It is also an American family name — about 14,000 people carried it as a surname in the 2010 census.

Lee Harvey Oswald — American former marine who assassinated John F. Kennedy (1939–1963)
Richard Oswald — Austrian film director (1880–1963)
Stephen S. Oswald — American astronaut

In stories & tradition

Oswald (The Penguin) — Batman: Arkham City (video game)
Oswald the Lucky Rabbit — The Banker's Daughter (film)

What Oswalds become

Among 691 notable people named Oswald:

Lawyers & judges appear 1.68× more often than among typical names — e.g. Oswald Freisler, German lawyer.

Spellings & nicknames

About 540 boys a year are given Ozzy as their full name and 130 Ozzie.

Similar names: Ozzie · Walton · Oslo · Crawford · Harland · Wayland

Browse more boy names — popularity, trends and eras for 5,700+ American names, free.

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