Oscar

Meanings

Proper Noun

• A male given name from Irish.
• , a rare anglicization of mac ([[McCusker).
• The letter O in the ICAO spelling alphabet.
• locale US (country).

Noun

• An Academy Award.
• A statuette awarded by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
• cash; money.

Origin

• Exact origin uncertain. Resuscitated by James Mcpherson in The Works of Ossian (1765). Napoleon, an admirer of the Ossianic poems, chose it for his godson Oscar Bernadotte, who became a king of Sweden.
• Possibly from Middle Irish Oscar, from Middle Irish os + cara.
• Alternatively, inherited from Old English Ōscār, Ōsgār, from Old English ōs and gār (see Oswald). Compare German Ansgar, Danish Asker, Asger, Norwegian Asgeir, Icelandic Ásgeir.
• Disputed. Said to have been named by actress Bette Davis after her first husband, Harmon Oscar Nelson, or by secretary Margaret Herrick after her cousin Oscar Pierce.
• Originally a nickname for the statuette; of disputed origin.
• Shortened form of Oscar Asche.