Oswald

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

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

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. It is also an American family name — about 14,000 people carry it as a surname, according to US census data. Oswald's short forms are Ozzie and Ozzy. About 540 boys a year are given Ozzy as their full name.

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.

Similar names: Ozzie · Walton · Oslo · Raleigh · Harland · Edmond

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

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