Oscar or Oskar is a masculine given name of Irish origin.
Etymology
The name is derived from two elements in Irish: the first, os, means "deer"; the second element, car, means "loving" or "friend", thus "deer-loving one" or "friend of deer". The name is borne by a character in Irish mythology—Oscar, grandson of Fionn Mac Cumhaill, and refers to his descent from his grandmother, Sadhbh, who was enchanted into the form of a deer.
The name was popularised in the 18th century by Scottish poet James Macpherson, creator of 'Ossianic poetry'. Today the name is associated with Scandinavia because Napoleon was an admirer of Macpherson's work and gave the name to his godson, Joseph Bernadotte, who later became Oscar I, King of Sweden. Consequently, at the time many Swedes were named Oscar. The name was given to more than a half-dozen members of Scandinavian royal houses. Oscar was the third most popular name for males born in Sweden in 2013 and is ranked 51 in terms of the most popular male names in Sweden.
The surname McCusker originates as an Anglicised form of the Irish Mac Oscair as does the anglicised surname Cosgrave. There is alternative speculation that it may be derived from the Old Norse cognate Ásgeirr (a personal name itself composed of the elements meaning "god" and "spear").
Cognates
Austrian German, Croatian, Czech, Estonian, Finnish, German, Norwegian, Polish, Scandinavian, Slovenian, Swedish, Swiss German: Oskar. Icelandic: Óskar. Catalan: Òscar. Danish, Dutch, English, French, Irish, Italian, Norwegian, Portuguese, Swedish: Oscar. Spanish: Óscar. Finnish: Oskari, Okko, Osku (a pet form of Oskari). Hungarian: Oszkár Latin: Anscharius. Latvian: Oskars. Lithuanian: Oskaras. Scottish Gaelic: Osgar. Gaeilge: Osgar/Osgur.
People with the given name Oscar
Oscar (footballer, born 1954), José Oscar Bernardi, Brazilian footballer
Oscar (footballer, born 1991), Oscar dos Santos Emboaba Júnior, Brazilian footballer Oscar I of Sweden (1799–1859), King of Sweden and Norway Oscar II of Sweden (1829–1907), King of Sweden and Norway Oscar Albayalde (born 1963), Filipino retired police officer Prince Oscar Bernadotte (1859–1953), Swedish prince and admiral Oscar Brodney (1907–2008), American lawyer and screenwriter Oscar Bronner (born 1943), Austrian journalist and painter Oscar Coggins (born 1999), Hong Kong triathlon athlete Oscar Colás (born 1998), Cuban baseball player Oscar Cortínez (born 1973), Argentine marathon runner Oscar Feltsman (1921–2013), Soviet-Ukrainian composer Oscar Fernandes (1941-2021), Indian politician Oscar Lorenzo Fernández (1897–1948), Brazilian composer Oscar Gamble (1949–2018), American baseball player Oscar Grant (1986–2009), African American fatally shot by police Oscar Hammerstein I (1846–1919), German-American businessman and theatre impresario Oscar Hammerstein II (1895–1960), American songwriter and musical director Oscar Han (1891–1976), Romanian sculptor and writer Oscar Hijuelos (1951–2013), Cuban-American novelist Oscar Holmes (1916–2001), first African-American Naval Aviator and air traffic controller Oscar De La Hoya (born 1973), American boxer and boxing promoter Oscar Isaac (born 1979), American actor Oscar Jacobson (1882–1966), Swedish-born American painter and museum curator Oscar James (born 1942), Trinidadian actor Oscar Kahl (born 1997), Thai football player Oscar Krokstedt (1908–1985), Swedish Navy vice admiral Oscar Levant (1906–1972, American pianist, composer, author, comedian, and actor) Oscar Lloyd (born 1997), British actor Oscar Malapitan (born 1955), Filipino politician Oscar Niemeyer (1907–2012), Brazilian architect Oscar Peterson (1925–2007), Canadian jazz pianist and composer Oscar Piastri (born 2001), Australian racing driver Oscar Pistorius (born 1986), South African convicted murderer and ex-Olympic sprinter Oscar Raise (born 1952), Italian high jumper Oscar Randal-Williams (born 1984) British mathematician Oscar van Rappard (1896–1962), Dutch footballer and hurdler Oscar de la Renta (1932–2014), Dominican-American fashion designer Oscar Robertson (born 1938), American basketball player Oscar Luigi Scalfaro (1918–2012), Italian politician Ossie Schectman (1919–2013), American basketball player who scored the first basket in National Basketball Association history Oscar Schmidt (born 1958), Brazilian basketball player Oscar J. Smith (1859–1937), American lawyer and politician Oscar Strático (born 1956), Argentine judoka and wrestler Oscar Traynor (1886–1963), Irish politician Oscar Tshiebwe (born 1999), Congolese basketball player Oscar Wendt (born 1985), Swedish football player Oscar Wilde (1854–1900), Irish writer and poet Oscar Lawton Wilkerson (1926-2023), American pilot