Oswald
Boy name · 3 babies recorded · 1974–2025
Oswald: 3 babies born in Scotland since 1974, given to boys, peaking at 3 births in 2025.
The name Oswald stems from the Old English *Osweald*, combining *os* (god) and *weald* (ruler), and so carries the meaning of “divine power” or “god-ruler.” This strong, saintly name was borne by King Oswald of Northumbria, a seventh-century ruler revered as a martyr and saint after his death in battle. In more modern times, it is perhaps most famously associated with Lee Harvey Oswald, though the name also appears in literature as the treacherous Oswald in Shakespeare’s *King Lear*. Several English villages, including Oswaldtwistle in Lancashire, take their name from the saint, and many ancient churches are dedicated to him. A notable cognate is the Old Norse *Ásvaldr*, which shares the same root and meaning.
Boy 1 of 52 years
- Peak year
- 20253 babies
- Latest (2025)
- #7623 babies
- Total births
- 3since 2025
- 5-year trend
- ≈ stablevs prior 5y