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Baby names

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Original poster

Oscar?

38 replies

Threelittlebirds1 · 15/02/2025 09:11

Really struggling to find a boys name we love. I've always liked Oscar but ruled it out previously due to popularity, I don't actually know any, but aware it's in the top 10.
I'm looking for something fairly traditional but not so popular it's become dull, would love opinions on Oscar please.

I'd also be grateful if anyone can post a link of most recent complete ONS boys list- I can only find top 100 names.

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bluebunnys · 21/02/2025 08:11

Oscar to me is the grouch in Sesame Street

HeCharters · 21/02/2025 08:02

@RogueFemale I really like them. Far nicer than most currently popular boys' names.

Yellowrosessmellpetaly · 21/02/2025 00:08

Also Lawrence Fox is called Lawrence so..

Yellowrosessmellpetaly · 21/02/2025 00:08

But to be less unhelpful I really like it, it's a really cool classy name for an adult.

Yellowrosessmellpetaly · 21/02/2025 00:05

BettyBardMacDonald · 15/02/2025 09:21

I just think of a grown man trying to have a career & social life as "oscar," and cringe.

It might be cute on a toddler but after that is such a clumsy, goofy name.

How about something like Lawrence?

I wouldn't class Oscar Pistorius or Oscar Wilde as goofy or clumsy.

AutumnScream · 20/02/2025 22:29

Some of the comments on this thread are completely batshit and deluded. Oscar is apparently not a grown mans name nor is it a classic serious name? Didnt seem to do Oscar Wilde or Oskar Schindler any harm in being taken seriously throughout history.

Op Oscar is a lovely classic strong name with a lot of positive role models. Its popular yes but so what? If you like it use it.

LookingAtMyBhunas · 20/02/2025 20:20

I love it and would love to use it but my sister had an abusive ex called Oscar so he fucked that. I'd definitely use it if not!

mathanxiety · 18/02/2025 04:05

Lovely name, and recognised all over the world.

I like the Oskar spelling too.

I know Oscars of all ages.

user1492757084 · 18/02/2025 03:39

Colin
David
Samuel
Malcolm
Columbus
Cuthbert
Charles
Angus
Cecil
Neil

RogueFemale · 18/02/2025 03:39

@Threelittlebirds1 Just do remember you're naming both a baby and a grown man. Oscar is such a sort of targeted, loaded name. If I were a man, I'd much rather be called James or Edward etc.

RogueFemale · 18/02/2025 03:33

BootballJoy · 15/02/2025 12:22

There have been about 3000 Oscars born a year for the last 15 years or so. There's no way it will be awkward or goofy for so many - it's like for example Simon or Andrew was a generation ago. It's an elegant name as well.

Show quote history

Simon and Andrew are awful too.

StormingNorman · 16/02/2025 23:55

Willem.

Starsandall · 16/02/2025 23:48

I love Oscar and os. I didn’t use it in the end and kind of regretted it. I did choose a popular name for one of my children and have hardly come across anyone with that name. The more uncommon name I chose for sibling there were 3 at school!
Heath
Hugh
Seth
Arthur
Louis

applemelons · 16/02/2025 13:50

I don’t like it, I’ve known a few from university and it always seemed like a really juvenile, unserious name to me

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 15/02/2025 19:26

I agree with pp - for “traditional but not popular” boys names look at current Dad’s/Grandad’s names like John, Robert, Phillip, Peter etc. With the 100 year rule, a lot of the Great- Grandad type names like Oscar, Albert, Alfred, Stanley etc feel trendy again but the Dad ones don’t!

But if you aren’t bothered about trends then I think Oscar is fine, it hasn’t done lots of other Oscar’s any harm and no name is so popular now that there are likely to be several in the class. I go to a lot of different baby/toddler classes and personally I only know of 2 young Oscar’s in different classes.

username462025 · 15/02/2025 17:53

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

IamnotwhouthinkIam · 15/02/2025 16:55

Oscar isn’t really super traditional sounding imo (since it’s only become popular again in the last couple of decades or so, I see it as more as part of the “Great-Grandad” name trend). But equally imo it has a nice enough sound and I personally think there are more pros than cons to having a popular name, unless your surname is also super popular.

ValentineValentineV · 15/02/2025 16:21

I know a lot of dogs called Oscar so that would put me off.

HeCharters · 15/02/2025 16:20

@bluebunnys ,in French-speaking countries, yes, but not in the UK.

bluebunnys · 15/02/2025 16:15

For a start, the first name is usually spelt Laurence.

That's actually the feminine version of Laurent!

I personally find Oscar overused and think it will start to sound dated soon. It's become too fashionable quickly imo.

I'd personally choose a more classic underused and timeless name!

HeCharters · 15/02/2025 15:06

BettyBardMacDonald · 15/02/2025 09:21

I just think of a grown man trying to have a career & social life as "oscar," and cringe.

It might be cute on a toddler but after that is such a clumsy, goofy name.

How about something like Lawrence?

For a start, the first name is usually spelt Laurence. Oscar is quite ordinary these days, and it isn't clumsy or goofy.
Why on earth would you think a grown man would cringe at saying his name was Oscar?

pearbottomjeans · 15/02/2025 12:55

I have had 3 kids in the last decade and don’t know a single Oscar. Was on our list and didn’t use it due to ‘popularity’! 🙄 do it op!

DrEggman · 15/02/2025 12:52

It’s not a name I like particularly but I do know a lot of Oscars. Two of my friends have Oscars and there are numerous Oscars in my DC’s year at school.

BootballJoy · 15/02/2025 12:22

BettyBardMacDonald · 15/02/2025 09:21

I just think of a grown man trying to have a career & social life as "oscar," and cringe.

It might be cute on a toddler but after that is such a clumsy, goofy name.

How about something like Lawrence?

There have been about 3000 Oscars born a year for the last 15 years or so. There's no way it will be awkward or goofy for so many - it's like for example Simon or Andrew was a generation ago. It's an elegant name as well.

SereneCapybara · 15/02/2025 09:51

Oscar is a lovely name. I've never cared if a name is popular. If you love it, use it.

names with a similar 'feel' to them (Imo) could be:

Jasper
Caspar or Kaspar
Leo
Jonah
Joshua
Orlando
Elliot
Elias
Ezra
Isaac/Izaak