Oswald

“God's power, or divine rule” — Old English origin

Boy's name · #2145 in the US (2025) · Timeless

Oswald has appeared in US records since 1880 — best rank #451 (1886) · 4,407 babies named Oswald all-time · 1 in 25,000 boys born in 2025.

Around the world: about 1 in 6,500 boys in Scotland (2025) · about 1 in 10,000 boys in England & Wales (2025) · about 1 in 19,000 boys in Austria (2025).

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

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)

In stories & tradition

Oswald (The Penguin) — Batman: Arkham City · Batman Returns
Oswald the Lucky Rabbit — The Banker's Daughter · Rickety Gin
Oswald (Cornelius Fudge) — Harry Potter · Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

What Oswalds become

Among 692 notable people named Oswald:

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

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