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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

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Original poster

Is Oscar really popular?

62 replies

WhatAPredicament · 03/09/2013 19:04

We like this name and don't know any personally but I get the feeling it has certainly been a popular choice in the last few years - has it been a trendy one that will, therefore, date? I know it's a name that can divide opinions but am really just asking if it has been overdone. Thanks!

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UpTheFRIGGinDuff · 03/09/2013 19:09

Yes,it's really popular.

EnjoyEverySandwich · 03/09/2013 19:12

Yes, it is going to date very very badly. It's a great name, but it's one of those names that parents thought was going to be really unusual, only to find that everybody else had had the same idea.

MeerkatMerkin · 03/09/2013 19:14

Yes. I know 5. Oldest is 7. Youngest is 1.

5madthings · 03/09/2013 19:18

I have an 11 yr old Oscar, it was NOT popular when we chose it! And then shot up the chart, but last uearot went down the charts so it is decreasing. The highest it got was up to 17, so never made it to the top ten names.

5madthings · 03/09/2013 19:20

Last year it was at number 25, with 3,289 oscars.

EnjoyEverySandwich · 03/09/2013 19:23

I quite fancy Osric. He could be Ozzie or Rick. Cool.

Original poster

WhatAPredicament · 03/09/2013 21:13

Hmm that's what I thought really. It's a shame as I like it but it would bug me if it sounded dated, also not convinced of it being a name for all age groups. Ok, back to the drawing board...thanks!

OP posts:

everlong · 03/09/2013 21:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Faverolles · 03/09/2013 21:41

I don't think Oscar will date, as it's always been there as a nice name.
3,289 sounds a lot, but spread over the whole country isn't exactly everywhere.
I personally know 3 Oscars. One is 12, two are 8.
If you like the name, use it.

Cloudkitten · 03/09/2013 22:05

I think it'll be like an Oliver, or Emma, constantly popular, and cyclical, coming back up every so often or every other generation, but certainly not a one-hit trendy wonder that dates to the 2010's like say, Jason dates to the 70s-80s or Karen and Tracey to the 60s-70s. Those names were trendy at the time and not a lot else before or since, whereas Oscar's history and popularity in Scandinavian/Eastern European countries mean it has a life outside of UK passing fashions.

To "date" in a bad way a name has to be relatively new to the game and become very popular in a short space of time. As there has been some extremely famous Oscars (Oscar Wilde and Oskar Schindler) in public consciousness and history, it isn't ever going to be new fangled, and it's Scandinavian connections set it apart and give it gravitas from names like Jason and Karen and, more recently, Chloe, Isla, Willow and Alfie, Riley and Joshua.

AndWhenYouGetThere · 03/09/2013 22:06

The only Oscar I know is 25 now. It must depend on your area of the country.

squoosh · 03/09/2013 22:40

Loads of Oscars of all ages in Ireland, move there and the name will never seem dated!

DumSpiroSpero · 03/09/2013 23:04

I knew an elderly Oscar as a child, and now I know two toddlers called Oscars.

I think it ages and dates pretty well tbh.

evamummy · 04/09/2013 07:02

Yes, there are loads of Oscars around here. Some go by Ozzie.
I'm not keen personally.

Littlecherublegs · 04/09/2013 13:19

I know one aged 6 - and a dog aged 4!

bananamummy · 04/09/2013 13:53

Ten years ago I didn't know a single Oscar, now we know about five aged 10 and under. So yes, it has become quite 'trendy' and may start to sound dated as people tire of it.

Osric is cool though!

CruCru · 04/09/2013 22:21

Think it depends where you are. There are lots in north London but not sure about the rest of the country.

FourGates · 04/09/2013 22:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Mutteroo · 04/09/2013 22:36

DS's name is in the top 3, but when we picked it , it was way down the list. Even if it was the most popular name on the entire planet, we still would have selected it.

If you love a name, then go with with it! DS's name is still my favourite boys name, whereas I've wavered with DD's name over the years. Ultimately, they both suit what they are called & I couldn't imagine them being anything else.

BTW, love Oscar & only know one who is now 21 years old.

Rhubarbgarden · 05/09/2013 07:47

I know three babies called Oscar. I do think it will date because it's very 'now'.

looki · 05/09/2013 08:31

Isaac is going to date.

Seriously? This brought a smile to my face. Its a biblical name for heavens sake!!! (excuse the pun).

To answer the actual question, I think Oscar is quite trendy and I think its also being used for a baby in one of the main soaps which I always think results in a name's popularity soaring. (Max's son in Eastenders?)

Frangepani · 05/09/2013 08:47

I agree with posters who've pointed out that it's a name which as been around for a long time so won't date in the way that Kylie or Keanu might (no offence meant to anyone)!

I'd also go along with those who say the most important thing is that you like the name. Our son's name is still my favourite boy's name - he's 21 now!

pygmy · 05/09/2013 08:51

Jason is a biblical name too. As us my name, Deborah, and that dated.

everlong · 05/09/2013 09:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

pygmy · 05/09/2013 09:28

I don't think it matters that a name dates. I was just pointing out that biblical names most definitely do date too!

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