Boy names that start with O stretch from the very top of the American charts to names the federal data has never recorded. Oliver ranked #3 among U.S. boys in 2025 and Owen #31, while Oxford turned up at #13,386 the same year (1).
All 100 names below carry the same details: gender, origin, meaning, style, pronunciation, and a popularity line taken from Social Security Administration birth records, which cover U.S. births only.
Whether you want a revival like Osborne, the fastest riser of the group in Onyx, or a name no class roll has ever repeated, there is an O name here for it. Names given to fewer than five American babies in a year never appear in the federal data at all (2).
Popularity at a Glance
The most popular names on this list in the United States, 1965 to 2025: Oliver, Owen, Oakley, Oscar and Omar.
100 Top Male Names That Start with O
Keep reading to uncover the most distinguished names for boys that start with O.
Oak
Tree names keep arriving, and Oak still gets passed over for Ash or Forrest. It is worth a second look: the tree stands for strength, justice, and honesty, and the word is short enough for a toddler to write. Pokemon fans will hear Professor Oak, a friendly association rather than a heavy one, though Oak reads unisex on paper and lands on boys far more often.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Meadow of oak trees
- Pronunciation: OHK
- Namesakes: Oak Onaodowan, an American Broadway star known for his role in Hamilton.
- Popularity: SSA records put Oak at #2,344 among U.S. boys in 2025, with 59 born that year.
Oakland
Oakland began as a place description for a family living near oak trees, and it still sounds like open ground. Most parents now hear the California city first, which gives the name a west coast edge. Oak trees carry weight in a lot of faith traditions, so there is quiet depth here too. If you want the nature idea without the bluntness of Oak itself, this is the longer way in.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Oak land
- Pronunciation: OHK-land
- Popularity: 160 U.S. boys were named Oakland in 2025, ranking it #1,248 nationally in SSA data.
Oakley
Oakley is one of the most heavily used boy names that start with O, and the momentum has not let up. It doubles as a Southern surname and brings to mind Annie Oakley, the sharpshooter of Wild West fame. There are boy namesakes as well, including Tyler Oakley, an American activist and YouTuber. Oaks makes an easy short form when the full name feels like a lot.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Oak wood or clearing
- Pronunciation: OHK-lee
- Variations: Oaklee, Oakleigh
- Namesakes: Oakley Hall, an American writer specializing in novels.
- Popularity: Ranked #156 in the U.S. in 2025 per SSA data, below its best showing of #153 in 2023.
Oates
Oates suits a boy you hope will be rich in the things that are not money. It works far more often as a surname than a first name, which is exactly what makes it available. Music lovers will land on Hall and Oates before anything else. Other bearers include authors, models, athletes, and mathematicians, so your son would be in varied company.
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Wealth
- Pronunciation: OHTS
- Popularity: The federal data has no record for Oates; names given to fewer than five U.S. babies in a year are not published.
Obadiah
Obadiah was a biblical prophet who hid other prophets from Queen Jezebel, and that quiet courage is what most parents respond to. The book that carries his name is short and stern, yet plenty of Christian families still reach for it. Obadiah also works as a common middle name when the full weight of it feels like too much up front. Obie and Diah both soften it for daily use.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Servant of God
- Pronunciation: oh-bah-DYE-uh
- Variations: Obediah
- Namesakes: Obadiah Tarumbwa, a Zimbabwean football player.
- Popularity: SSA records put Obadiah at #1,630 among U.S. boys in 2025, with 104 born that year.
Obafemi
Obafemi is a Yoruba name about being loved by the King, which parents read as divine affection. The best known bearers include Obafemi Awolowo, a Nigerian politician who worked toward his country’s independence. Obafemi Martins, a Nigerian football player, carries the name into sports. It is a mouthful on a birth certificate and easy in the mouth once you have said it twice. Femi is the natural short form.
- Origin: Nigerian, Yoruban
- Meaning: The King loves me
- Pronunciation: oh-buh-FEH-mee
- Namesakes: Obafemi Martins, a Nigerian football player.
- Popularity: No recent U.S. record: the SSA last published Obafemi in 2017, at #13,715.
Obama
Obama carries an unmistakable association, since it is the family name of America’s 44th president. Most people assume it is only an African name, but it also has Japanese roots, where it points to a little beach. That double origin gives it more range than its politics suggest. If five letter boy names with O are your target, this one belongs on the shortlist.
- Origin: African, Japanese
- Meaning: Bending, little beach
- Pronunciation: oh-BAH-muh
- Namesakes: Barack Obama, America’s 44th President.
- Popularity: SSA records last list Obama in 2009, at #5,738; it has not met the five birth threshold since.
Obasi
Obasi is one of the least expected guy names that start with O, and it wears its Igbo meaning of honor to God plainly. It shows up as a surname more often than a first name, so a boy carrying it up front would stand out immediately. There are no household name bearers to live up to, which some parents count as a benefit. Consider it if you want something unmistakably his.
- Origin: Igbo
- Meaning: Honor of God
- Pronunciation: oh-BAH-see
- Popularity: Obasi last appears in U.S. birth data in 1996 (#10,100), after a best rank of #10,100 in 1996.
Obed
In the Bible, Obed is the grandfather of King David, which places him inside a much retold family line. The name has stayed in use without ever becoming crowded, so it feels found rather than chosen from a top ten. Its meaning, servant of God, suits parents who want faith stated simply. It reads plainly on the page, with no unusual spelling to catch a teacher out.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Servant of God
- Pronunciation: OH-bed
- Namesakes: Obed Asamoah, the former Attorney General in Ghana.
- Popularity: SSA records put Obed at #2,072 among U.S. boys in 2025, with 72 born that year.
Oberon
Shakespeare put Oberon on the map as the fairy king of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and the name has kept that theatrical shimmer. Writers used it earlier in German legend, so the literary trail runs deeper than one play. Alternate meanings include bearlike, which pulls it back toward something sturdier than fairies. Oberon reads unisex, making it an intriguing nonbinary option.
- Origin: English, German
- Meaning: Noble
- Pronunciation: OH-ber-ahn
- Popularity: 17 U.S. boys were named Oberon in 2025, ranking it #5,544 nationally in SSA data.
Obert
Obert is for parents who like a vintage feel without a name everyone can already picture, and its French and German roots make it sound European without being hard to say. Its meaning, wealthy and bright, is generous without being grand. The stacked consonants give it a solid, no-nonsense sound when spoken aloud.
- Origin: German, French
- Meaning: Wealthy, bright
- Pronunciation: OH-burt
- Popularity: Obert last appears in U.S. birth data in 1988 (#4,374), after a best rank of #1,496 in 1916.
Obi
Star Wars fans will hear Obi-Wan Kenobi immediately, and that is a fine door into a name that stands well on its own. Obi means heart, which is about as direct a sentiment as a name can carry. It appears widely as a surname, including for athletes, so it has plenty of grown adult company. Two syllables, no spelling trouble, and an obvious reason behind the choice.
- Origin: African
- Meaning: Heart
- Pronunciation: OH-bee
- Variations: Obie
- Namesakes: Obi Ezeh, an American football player.
- Popularity: SSA data has Obi at #3,823 in 2025, with births over the last decade up 179% on the decade before.
Ocean
Nature names keep gaining ground, and Ocean is one of the few that works for boys and girls without feeling borrowed. The sea has stood for power, order out of chaos, and calm for a very long time, so the associations write themselves. Parents who married by the water or grew up near it tend to hear all of that at once. It is unisex on the record and slightly more common for boys.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Sea
- Pronunciation: OH-shin
- Namesakes: Ocean Ramsey, an American environmentalist and model.
- Popularity: SSA records put Ocean at #720 among U.S. boys in 2025, with 375 born that year.
Oceanus
In ancient accounts, Oceanus was the great river believed to circle the earth, and later the Titan who personified it. Being one of the oldest figures in Greek myth gives the name a settled, unhurried feel. It is long for a birth certificate, though a boy born near the sea would carry it well. Ocean is right there if the full form ever feels heavy.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Of the ocean
- Pronunciation: OH-see-AN-us
- Popularity: Oceanus last appears in U.S. birth data in 2024 (#11,951), after a best rank of #11,951 in 2024.
Octave
Octave lands well with musicians, especially anyone who has stretched for a note at the far end of the scale. French writers have claimed it repeatedly, so there is a literary line as well as a musical one. It is a genuinely unique name in the United States, which suits parents who want the arts in a name without an obvious pick. Do not be surprised if your little man comes out humming.
- Origin: French
- Meaning: Musical notes
- Pronunciation: AHK-tiv
- Namesakes: Octave Pradels, a French poet.
- Popularity: No recent U.S. record: the SSA last published Octave in 2024, at #11,952.
Octavius
Octavius was traditionally given to an eighth son. An August baby is a fair modern excuse to use it anyway. Rome’s Caesar Augustus was Octavius first, which gives the name real historical footing. It also turned up as a character in the Hunger Games films, so it is not stranded in antiquity. Tav and Oz both cut it down when four syllables are too many.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Eighth
- Pronunciation: ahk-TAY-vee-us
- Namesakes: Octavius Ellis, an American basketball player.
- Popularity: SSA data has Octavius at #2,073 in 2025, with births over the last decade up 64% on the decade before.
Ode
Think of the poems your Ode could inspire. The word describes a lyric poem written for a particular person or subject, which makes the name a small compliment in itself. Plenty of famous odes exist, so your son will never be short of reading connected to his own name. There is a pleasant irony waiting if he grows up to write rather than be written about.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: A lyric poem
- Pronunciation: OHD
- Popularity: Ode last appears in U.S. birth data in 1927 (#3,363), after a best rank of #3,127 in 1913.
Odie
Odie is short, warm, and slightly old fashioned in the way that keeps working. Comic readers will place it as Garfield’s good natured friend, which is a gentle rather than awkward link. Ashley Williams from How I Met Your Mother chose it for her son in 2017, nudging it back into conversation. It also serves as a nickname for Odell or Odin if you want a longer name on paper.
- Origin: English, German
- Meaning: Of the valley, wealthy
- Pronunciation: OH-dee
- Namesakes: Odie Payne, an American Chicago blues drummer.
- Popularity: 17 U.S. boys were named Odie in 2025, ranking it #5,547 nationally in SSA data.
Odin
Norse myth says Odin traded an eye for wisdom, which is the kind of story a child will ask about more than once. He is Thor’s father and one of the best known rulers in any mythology, so the name arrives with weight. The English form is Woden, which is where Wednesday comes from. That makes it a fitting pick for a boy who turns up midweek.
- Origin: Norse, Scandinavian, English
- Meaning: God of frenzy
- Pronunciation: OH-dihn
- Popularity: Ranked #502 in the U.S. in 2025 per SSA data, below its best showing of #327 in 2021.
Odolf
Odolf suits a boy with a head for strategy. The wolf in its meaning may read sharp at first, but wolves stand for loyalty, family, and adaptability across a lot of traditions. Alternate meanings include passionately dedicated, which is a fine thing to wish on anyone. It is rare enough that your son would likely never meet another.
- Origin: German
- Meaning: Prosperous wolf
- Pronunciation: OH-dalf
- Variations: Adolf
- Popularity: Odolf stays under the SSA’s publication line of five U.S. births in a year, so no rank exists for it.
Odysseus
Odysseus is remembered for cleverness and for getting out of situations no one else survived. Homer built the Odyssey around him, so the literary pedigree is about as strong as it gets. The name is long, but it is not hard to say once and impossible to forget, with Odie or Ody keeping it usable at the park.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Wrathful
- Pronunciation: oh-DISS-ee-uhs
- Namesakes: Odysseus Elytis, a Greek poet and Nobel Prize winner.
- Popularity: SSA records put Odysseus at #2,870 among U.S. boys in 2025, with 44 born that year.
Oedipus
Oedipus is one of the more unassuming male names that start with O, mostly because the O sits silent on the way in. King Oedipus of Greek tragedy is the obvious reference, and it is a heavy one, so this is a name for parents who want the myth and not just the sound. Ed is the ready made escape hatch. Choose it knowing the story will come up.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Swollen foot
- Pronunciation: ED-ih-puhs
- Popularity: The federal data has no record for Oedipus; names given to fewer than five U.S. babies in a year are not published.
Ofir
Ofir was a biblical place known for gold and jewels, which is a lot of shine for four letters. The meaning does the work here, so the name needs no explanation beyond itself. Ophir is the alternate spelling if you prefer the older look on paper. It is short, easy to say, and unlikely to be repeated in a classroom.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Gold
- Pronunciation: oh-FEER
- Variations: Ophir
- Namesakes: Ofir Netzer, an Israeli gymnast.
- Popularity: Ofir last appears in U.S. birth data in 2014 (#13,488), after a best rank of #6,361 in 1991.
Ogden
Ogden has a hushed, bookish quality, helped along by the poet Ogden Nash. Ernest Cline gave the name to a character in Ready Player One, which introduced it to a much younger crowd. Its meaning, from the oak valley, keeps it tied to the same countryside as Oak and Oakley. Old souls will like how completely it belongs to another era.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: From the oak valley
- Pronunciation: AHG-den
- Namesakes: Ogden Nash, an American poet
- Popularity: SSA data has Ogden at #8,726 in 2025, with births over the last decade up 35% on the decade before.
Ohad
Ohad appears in Genesis as the third son of Simeon, which gives it a quiet biblical anchor. Alternate meanings include praising and confessing, so it suits a family for whom faith is part of daily life. Read secularly, it is simply a name that means beloved, which no child will object to. Two syllables, no nicknames required.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Loved one
- Pronunciation: oh-HAHD
- Namesakes: Ohad Benchetrit, a Canadian musician who has contributed to Feist’s albums.
- Popularity: SSA records last list Ohad in 2005, at #12,820; it has not met the five birth threshold since.
Ohnjel
Ohnjel is a respelling of the Greek word behind angel. Parents choose it when the standard spelling feels too plain. You already think your baby is heaven sent, so the sentiment is not a stretch. It keeps the sound of a familiar name while sitting firmly on theme with male names that start with O. Expect to spell it out.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Messenger of God
- Pronunciation: AHN-jel
- Popularity: Ohnjel stays under the SSA’s publication line of five U.S. births in a year, so no rank exists for it.
Oisin
Oisin was a poet and warrior in Irish myth, son of Fionn mac Cumhaill and Sadhbh, and he could take the shape of a deer as his mother did. The meaning, little deer, sits right alongside that story. Deer stand for intuition and adaptability, which is a gentler set of qualities than most warrior names offer. It honors Irish heritage without being one of the four names everyone already uses.
- Origin: Irish
- Meaning: Little deer
- Pronunciation: oh-SHEEN, UH-sheen
- Popularity: Ranked #4,660 in the U.S. in 2025 per SSA data, below its best showing of #3,547 in 2020.
Ojas
Ojas is a good match for a baby who arrives kicking and hollering. A traditional Indian name for a healthy boy, it says most of what a new parent hopes for in two syllables. Alternate meanings include grandeur and strong one. The pronunciation is calmer than the meaning, which is a pleasant contradiction.
- Origin: Indian, Sanskrit
- Meaning: Vitality
- Pronunciation: OH-jiss
- Popularity: SSA data has Ojas at #2,787 in 2025, with births over the last decade up 86% on the decade before.
Okeke
In Igbo culture, Okeke marks a boy born on Eke day, one of the four market days that structure the traditional week. Eke also corresponds to a stretch of the year roughly matching April and May. That makes it a thoughtful pick for a spring baby with Igbo family. The spelling stays phonetic, so a teacher will read it right on the first try.
- Origin: African
- Meaning: Born on Eke
- Pronunciation: oh-KAY-kay
- Popularity: Okeke stays under the SSA’s publication line of five U.S. births in a year, so no rank exists for it.
Olaf
Disney’s snowman made Olaf instantly recognizable. Of the hundred names here, Olaf has fallen the furthest, with births over the last decade down 56 percent on the decade before. Several Norwegian kings carried it, so there is real royalty behind the cartoon. Alternate meanings include family, which suits the boy who completes yours.
- Origin: Norse
- Meaning: Ancestral heritage
- Pronunciation: OH-lahf
- Namesakes: Olaf Stapledon, a British philosopher and author.
- Popularity: 5 U.S. boys were named Olaf in 2025, ranking it #13,369 nationally in SSA data.
Olamide
Olamide is a Yoruba name for the child who sits at the center of his parents’ world, and though it is technically unisex, it is used more often for boys. American sports fans met it through Olamide Zaccheaus, a football player. Day makes a hippie nickname if you want something breezier for the playground.
- Origin: African
- Meaning: My wealth has arrived
- Pronunciation: oh-la-MEE-day
- Namesakes: Olamide David, a Nigerian child actor known for his role in Cobweb.
- Popularity: Ranked #11,636 in the U.S. in 2025 per SSA data, below its best showing of #4,662 in 2015.
Olatunde
Olatunde carries the idea that joy has come back around, which is a lovely thing to say over a crib. This exotic title has few famous bearers, leaving the field wide open. It suits the boy whose arrival changed the mood of a house. Its rolling rhythm carries well when read aloud at a naming ceremony.
- Origin: African
- Meaning: Joy returns
- Pronunciation: oh-la-TOON-day
- Popularity: Olatunde last appears in U.S. birth data in 2011 (#10,475), after a best rank of #4,902 in 1978.
Olav
Olav is the sharper edged cousin of Olaf, and it was long the form used for Norwegian royalty, including Olav V. The meaning points back to an ancestor’s relic, so it does the job of a family name without being one. It is rare in the United States, which keeps it feeling deliberate rather than dated. Choose it for a boy you hope takes after someone you loved.
- Origin: Scandinavian, Norse
- Meaning: Ancestor’s relic
- Pronunciation: OH-lahv
- Namesakes: Olav V, the former King of Norway.
- Popularity: No recent U.S. record: the SSA last published Olav in 2022, at #13,795.
Olavi
If you are after polished O names for boys, Olavi is worth a look. The adorable Finnish variant of Olaf, it trades the cartoon association for something softer and more casual. Finnish actors, athletes, and scientists have carried it, including the ski champion Olavi Svanberg. The double vowel takes a beat to learn, then it reads naturally after that.
- Origin: Scandinavian, Finnish
- Meaning: Family descendant
- Pronunciation: oh-LAH-vee
- Namesakes: Olavi Svanberg, a Finnish ski champion.
- Popularity: SSA records last list Olavi in 1924, at #4,785; it has not met the five birth threshold since.
Ole
Three letter names are thin on the ground, so Ole is worth grabbing while it is still overlooked. Alternate meanings include rich heritage, which fits a boy joining a big, well documented family. The Danish astronomer Ole Romer, remembered for his work on the speed of light, is the standout bearer. It is one syllable and impossible to shorten, which some parents count as a relief.
- Origin: Danish, Norse, German
- Meaning: Ancestor’s heir
- Pronunciation: OHL
- Namesakes: Ole Romer, a Danish astronomer known for his accomplishments regarding the speed of light.
- Popularity: Ranked #4,820 in the U.S. in 2025 per SSA data, below its best showing of #987 in 1913.
Oleg
Oleg is the masculine counterpart to Olga and rarely travels far outside Europe. Alternate meanings include blessed, which reads as a straightforward wish for a good life. Notable bearers include Oleg Cassini, an American fashion designer known for his dresses. Oleg Shatov, a Russian football player, extends the name into sports. Two crisp syllables, no nickname needed.
- Origin: Russian
- Meaning: Holy
- Pronunciation: OH-leg
- Namesakes: Oleg Cassini, an American fashion designer specializing in dresses.
- Popularity: Current U.S. use is steady: #8,728 in 2025, per SSA birth records.
Oleksander
Oleksander is the Ukrainian form of Alexander, and the meaning, defender of mankind, survives every version. Alexander the Great made the whole family of spellings famous across Europe. Alternate spellings are everywhere, so choose the one that looks right to you and expect to correct people. It suits a boy you hope will stand up for others.
- Origin: Greek, Ukrainian
- Meaning: Defender of mankind
- Pronunciation: OH-lehk-SAN-der
- Variations: Aleksander, Oleksandr, Alexander
- Popularity: The federal data has no record for Oleksander; names given to fewer than five U.S. babies in a year are not published.
Oleksiy
If you want cute O names for boys with some backbone, Oleksiy delivers both. It is a gentler relative of Alexander and keeps the meaning of defender. The various spellings appeal to parents who would rather not share a version with anyone else. Leksi makes a soft nickname for a small warrior.
- Origin: Ukrainian, Greek
- Meaning: Defender
- Pronunciation: OH-lehk-see
- Variations: Oleksii, Oleksey
- Namesakes: Oleksiy Gai, a Ukrainian football player.
- Popularity: Oleksiy last appears in U.S. birth data in 2022 (#13,796), after a best rank of #13,492 in 2014.
Olin
Olin reads as a surname first, which is exactly the sort of name that has been moving to the front lately. It once described an heir, so it carries a forward looking sense of what is coming rather than what is past. The Music Man features a character named Olin, though pop culture references are otherwise scarce. Olin Kreutz, an American football player who spent years with the Bears, is the best known bearer.
- Origin: Swedish, Scandinavian
- Meaning: To inherit, ancestor’s heir
- Pronunciation: OH-lihn
- Namesakes: Olin Kreutz, an American football player who played for the Bears.
- Popularity: Ranked #1,849 in the U.S. in 2025 per SSA data, below its best showing of #406 in 1934.
Olindo
Olindo comes from Torquato Tasso’s poem Jerusalem Delivered, where the character takes the blame for his lover even when it meant death. Fate stepped in before the worst happened, but readers remember the gesture. That makes the name a quiet nod to loyalty rather than heroics. Lindo is the natural short form.
- Origin: Greek, Latin
- Meaning: Wild fig
- Pronunciation: OH-lihn-DOH
- Popularity: SSA records last list Olindo in 1923, at #3,107; it has not met the five birth threshold since.
Oliver
Oliver is proof that vintage names can come all the way back. It had an early run around 1900, faded into the background, and climbed again from the early 1990s onward, and it now stands at #3 among American boys, the highest ranked name on this list. Oliver Twist keeps the literary association alive, Oliver Hardy keeps the comic one, and Ollie is the nickname almost every family lands on.
- Origin: French, German, Latin
- Meaning: Olive tree, ancestor’s descendants
- Pronunciation: AH-lih-ver
- Variations: Olivier
- Namesakes: Oliver Hardy, an American actor and comedian known for his role in Laurel and Hardy, a popular act.
- Popularity: SSA records put Oliver at #3 among U.S. boys in 2025, with 14,939 born that year.
Olle
Olle is the pared down Swedish form of Aleifr, and it looks as light as it sounds. It refers fondly to a descendant, which suits the boy carrying the family name forward. Bearers include Olle Hellbom, a Swedish director known for the Pippi Longstocking films, and Olle Romo, a music producer who worked with Shania Twain. Expect to spell it out in America.
- Origin: Swedish, Scandinavian, Norse
- Meaning: Relic, descendant
- Pronunciation: OH-lee
- Namesakes: Olle Romo, a Swedish music producer who worked with Shania Twain.
- Popularity: No recent U.S. record: the SSA last published Olle in 2020, at #13,522.
Olorun
In the Yoruba religion, Olorun is the ruler of the heavens. The name is given to boys, though the deity itself is understood as gender neutral. Alternate meanings include heavens, which gives it an airy quality that the sound does not. The four syllables ask for a careful introduction, but they settle quickly once learned.
- Origin: African
- Meaning: Belonging to the God Olorun
- Pronunciation: oh-loh-ROHN
- Variations: Oloron, Oloroon
- Popularity: The federal data has no record for Olorun; names given to fewer than five U.S. babies in a year are not published.
Olson
Olson is a common surname and a rare first name, which is the whole appeal. Families use it to honor a grandfather or a maiden name without resorting to a middle slot. The spellings run from Olsen to Olsson, so you can match whichever branch you are honoring. Surnames keep moving to the front of the birth certificate, and this one is overdue.
- Origin: Scandinavian
- Meaning: Son of Olaf
- Pronunciation: OHL-suhn
- Variations: Oleson, Olsen, Olsson
- Popularity: SSA data has Olson at #3,732 in 2025, with births over the last decade up 162% on the decade before.
Oluwatosin
Oluwatosin may be the longest name on this list, and length is part of what people like about it. It says that God is worthy of worship, so it doubles as a statement of faith. Written out in full it is imposing, which is why most families use Tosin from day one. Give him the long version on paper and let him choose later.
- Origin: Nigerian
- Meaning: God is worthy of worship
- Pronunciation: oh-LOO-wah-TOW-sihn
- Popularity: No recent U.S. record: the SSA last published Oluwatosin in 2024, at #13,707.
Olympus
Olympus is the highest mountain in Greece and the home of the gods in myth, so the name starts at altitude. Marvel borrowed it for a planetoid. A famous Navy battleship carried the name as well. It is bold rather than subtle, and it suits parents who are not looking for subtle. Ollie quietly makes it usable.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Mount Olympus
- Pronunciation: UH-lihm-puhs
- Variations: Olympos
- Popularity: SSA records last list Olympus in 2023, at #11,880; it has not met the five birth threshold since.
Olyn
Olyn is for parents who want a nature name that nobody will identify as one. It points to holly, a plant long tied to fertility and to midwinter decorating. That makes it a fitting pick for a December baby without being on the nose about it. Two syllables, soft edges, and no obvious nickname.
- Origin: Swedish, British
- Meaning: Holly
- Pronunciation: AH-linn, OH-linn
- Popularity: Ranked #11,640 in the U.S. in 2025 per SSA data, below its best showing of #3,161 in 1914.
Om
Om is held in high regard in Sanskrit tradition as a sacred sound used in recitation and meditation. It is about as short as a name can be, and it carries more meaning per letter than almost anything else here. Parents drawn to spiritual names tend to find it immediately. Your sweet Om will keep reminding you to slow down.
- Origin: Indian
- Meaning: Creation
- Pronunciation: OHM
- Popularity: SSA data has Om at #2,177 in 2025, with births over the last decade down 26% on the decade before.
Omar
Omar appears in the Bible as a descendant of Esau and is widely used across Islamic cultures, Spanish speaking countries, and the United States. That reach is the point: it travels well and needs no explanation almost anywhere. Omar Sharif, the Egyptian actor of Doctor Zhivago fame, remains the best known bearer. It is a strong, settled choice that has never needed a trend to carry it.
- Origin: Arabic, Hebrew
- Meaning: Long-live, flourishing
- Pronunciation: oh-MAHR
- Namesakes: Omar Sharif, an Egyptian actor known for his role in Doctor Zhivago.
- Popularity: SSA records put Omar at #260 among U.S. boys in 2025, with 1,333 born that year.
Omega
Omega is the last letter of the Greek alphabet, which is where the meaning comes from. Christian families will hear the description of Jesus as the alpha and the omega, so there is a scriptural layer as well. It reads unisex but sits more easily on boys in practice. Parents sometimes save it for a last baby, which is a sweet piece of private symbolism.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Last
- Pronunciation: oh-MEG-ah
- Popularity: 27 U.S. boys were named Omega in 2025, ranking it #4,016 nationally in SSA data.
Omiros
Omiros is the Greek form of Homer, so it comes attached to the oldest literature we have. Homer is familiar to the point of being a cartoon reference; Omiros is not, which is the advantage. Alternate meanings include hostage and pledge, giving it more edge than its literary cousin, and making it a fitting name for the boy you promise to love no matter what.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Pledge
- Pronunciation: OH-mee-rohs
- Popularity: No U.S. rank exists for Omiros, which has never reached the SSA’s five birth reporting threshold.
Omondi
Omondi is given to Luo boys born early in the morning, which makes it a rare example of a name that records the hour of an arrival. If your son turned up before sunrise, the fit is exact. It shows up far more often as a surname, including the Kenyan comedian and performer Eric Omondi. Mondi works as a short form.
- Origin: Luo, African
- Meaning: Born early in the morning
- Pronunciation: oh-MAHN-dee
- Popularity: The federal data has no record for Omondi; names given to fewer than five U.S. babies in a year are not published.
Omri
In the Bible, Omri was a king of Israel remembered for bringing his country a stretch of peace. Pop culture readers may recognize it as the main character’s name in The Indian in the Cupboard. Two syllables, no soft edges, and almost no chance of a duplicate in class. It suits parents who want something biblical that has stayed out of the rotation.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Sheaf of grain
- Pronunciation: AHM-ree, OHM-ree
- Namesakes: Omri Katz, an American actor known for his role in Hocus Pocus.
- Popularity: SSA records put Omri at #3,567 among U.S. boys in 2025, with 32 born that year.
Ondre
Ondre once described a Greek warrior, and the meaning has stayed with it through every respelling. You may not want a soldier for a son, though a little discipline has never hurt anyone. Alternate meanings include manly, which is about as direct as naming gets. Dre is the obvious nickname and a cool one.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Warrior
- Pronunciation: AHN-dray
- Variations: Andre
- Popularity: No recent U.S. record: the SSA last published Ondre in 2021, at #10,501.
Oneal
Oneal had a real run in the 1930s before slipping out of common use. Families with a Neil somewhere in the tree use it to honor him without repeating the name outright. Alternate meanings include champion, tied to the idea of descending from a chief’s line. O’neal is there if you prefer the apostrophe.
- Origin: Irish
- Meaning: From the chief’s line
- Pronunciation: oh-NEEL
- Variations: O’neal
- Popularity: Ranked #11,642 in the U.S. in 2025 per SSA data, below its best showing of #784 in 1935.
Onesimo
Onesimo traditionally went to a firstborn Spanish son, which makes it a natural fit for an oldest child. There is genuine disagreement about its origins. Some trace it to Spanish roots, others to African ones. The African reading gives it the sense of useful or well behaved, both fair things to hope for. The rolling four syllables suit a family who wants a short middle name to balance it.
- Origin: Spanish, African
- Meaning: Firstborn son
- Pronunciation: OH-nee-see-MOH
- Namesakes: Onesimo Sanchez, a Spanish soccer player.
- Popularity: Onesimo last appears in U.S. birth data in 2023 (#10,513), after a best rank of #2,283 in 1932.
Onfroi
Onfroi is the high fashion French take on Humphrey, and the transformation is remarkable. Parents tend to fall for its meaning of peaceful warrior. That pairing, calm and capable at once, is the whole reason to choose it. The French pronunciation will need repeating, and it will be worth it.
- Origin: French, German
- Meaning: Peaceful warrior
- Pronunciation: oon-FWAH
- Popularity: No U.S. rank exists for Onfroi, which has never reached the SSA’s five birth reporting threshold.
Onni
Onni means happiness in Finnish, which is a hard thing to argue with on a birth certificate. Cheerful names are underrated, especially on the days when nothing else is going well. Alternate meanings include luck, so the boy doubles as a charm. Onni Tommila, the Finnish actor from Big Game, is the bearer most likely to come up.
- Origin: Finnish
- Meaning: Happiness
- Pronunciation: AH-nee
- Namesakes: Onni Tommila, a Finnish actor known for his role in Big Game.
- Popularity: SSA records last list Onni in 2024, at #10,641; it has not met the five birth threshold since.
Onofre
Onofre is for the boy on a mission. San Onofre, a fourth century hermit remembered as a saint, is the most notable bearer, and there is a California beach that carries the name as well. That mix of monastery and surf break gives it unusual range. Onofre Marimon, an Argentine race car driver, adds a third flavor entirely.
- Origin: Italian, Spanish, Portuguese
- Meaning: Defender of peace
- Pronunciation: uh-NOH-fray
- Namesakes: Onofre Marimon, an Argentine race car driver.
- Popularity: Onofre last appears in U.S. birth data in 2011 (#13,782), after a best rank of #2,789 in 1932.
Onslow
Onslow is among the rarest six letter O names for boys and reads instantly as English. Arabic and English roots between them give the name more travel than its sound suggests. Keeping Up Appearances gave the world a memorably scruffy Onslow, and the American actor Onslow Stevens gave it a more polished one. Its meaning, from the zealous one’s hill, suits a boy who commits hard to whatever he loves.
- Origin: English, Arabic
- Meaning: From the zealous one’s hill
- Pronunciation: OHN-sloh
- Namesakes: Onslow Stevens, an American actor known for his role in House of Dracula.
- Popularity: No recent U.S. record: the SSA last published Onslow in 1917, at #3,465.
Onyx
Onyx is the December birthstone and the stone tied to Leo, so there are two birthday links built in, and it was once used as currency and long believed to turn away bad energy. Of the hundred names here it has risen the fastest, with births in the last ten years up 926 percent on the ten years before. It reads unisex and lands on boys and girls alike.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Claw
- Pronunciation: AH-niks, OH-niks
- Variations: Onix
- Namesakes: Onyx Lorenzoni, a Brazilian politician and member of Brazil’s Chief Staff.
- Popularity: SSA records put Onyx at #365 among U.S. boys in 2025, with 881 born that year.
Opie
Opie is short and kind, describing someone of good character. It has a vintage British feel, though most Americans will place it through Family Guy or Sons of Anarchy first. It travels particularly well in the South, where similar clipped names have always done fine. Give it to a boy and let him show people how much it can carry.
- Origin: Cornish, Celtic
- Meaning: One who is like God
- Pronunciation: oh-PEE
- Variations: Oppy
- Namesakes: Opie Coates, an American clarinet player, turned radio actor.
- Popularity: 29 U.S. boys were named Opie in 2025, ranking it #3,824 nationally in SSA data.
Oral
Oral refers to the spoken word, or to someone who speaks in public, which is unmistakable the moment you hear it. It was in steady use through the early 1900s before falling away almost entirely. The evangelist Oral Roberts is the bearer nearly everyone thinks of. Alternate meanings include golden son, which is a warmer reading than the obvious one.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Speaker
- Pronunciation: OR-uhl
- Variations: Orel
- Namesakes: Oral Roberts, an American evangelist.
- Popularity: No recent U.S. record: the SSA last published Oral in 2003, at #10,513.
Oran
Anyone who knows their saints will connect Oran to Oran of Iona, an Irish monk. Beyond Ireland, the name has Scottish and Hebrew footing, where it points to light and to song. Alternate meanings include little green man, which is either charming or a lot, depending on your feelings about leprechauns. It is a fine pick for a boy born near St. Patrick’s Day.
- Origin: Hebrew, Irish, Scottish
- Meaning: Light, song
- Pronunciation: OR-uhn, or-AHN
- Variations: Odhran
- Namesakes: Oran “Juice” Jones, an American R&B singer.
- Popularity: Current U.S. use is steady: #5,153 in 2025, per SSA birth records.
Orazio
Orazio means prayer, which makes it a natural for the child you waited a long time for. Your son will have no shortage of Italian namesakes, among them architects, actors, and writers. Alternate meanings describe a person steadfast in prayer. Zee and Razi both keep it modern in an American classroom.
- Origin: Italian
- Meaning: Prayer
- Pronunciation: or-AH-zee-oh
- Namesakes: Orazio Rancati, an Italian football player who competed in the 1960 Summer Olympics.
- Popularity: Orazio last appears in U.S. birth data in 2024 (#9,632), after a best rank of #2,050 in 1918.
Oren
Oren describes a young pine. It is a lovely image for a small boy with a lot of growing ahead. In Native American culture, pines carry associations with wisdom and intuition. Alternate meanings include pale and fair, so it suits a blond baby particularly well. Ren is the short form waiting for him.
- Origin: Hebrew, Irish
- Meaning: Like a pine tree
- Pronunciation: OR-ehn
- Namesakes: Oren Williams, an American actor known for his role in The Amanda Show.
- Popularity: 174 U.S. boys were named Oren in 2025, ranking it #1,184 nationally in SSA data.
Orestes
Orestes is best known as an avenger in Greek mythology, driven by his father’s murder and unravelled by what he did about it. It is not a light story, though the loyalty at the center of it is what most parents take away. Alternate meanings include one who conquers mountains, which lifts the name well out of the tragedy. Orestes Destrade, an American baseball player, offers a much more cheerful bearer.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: He who stands on a mountain
- Pronunciation: or-ESS-tees
- Variations: Orestis
- Namesakes: Orestes Destrade, an American baseball player.
- Popularity: SSA records last list Orestes in 2019, at #13,607; it has not met the five birth threshold since.
Ori
Ori is a Hebrew name meaning my light, and scripture returns to that image again and again. Families who read the Bible together will find plenty to point to when he asks about it. It reads unisex and lands more often on boys. Two syllables, easy anywhere, and quietly beautiful.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: My light
- Pronunciation: or-EE
- Namesakes: Ori Biton, an Israeli football player.
- Popularity: SSA data has Ori at #2,002 in 2025, with births over the last decade up 62% on the decade before.
Oriel
Oriel suits a newborn who is, as the saying goes, as good as gold. It is classified as unisex, and its closeness to Ariel means it drifts toward girls in practice. The name appears in the book Malache Elyon, which is a rare literary sighting for something this uncommon. Do not be surprised when your Oriel turns out to be everyone’s golden boy.
- Origin: Latin
- Meaning: Golden
- Pronunciation: OR-ee-el
- Popularity: SSA records put Oriel at #4,349 among U.S. boys in 2025, with 24 born that year.
Origen
Origen sits one letter away from origin, so it points a child toward where he came from. Origen of Alexandria was a theologian regarded as one of the sharpest minds in early Christianity, though later disputes over his writings kept him from being named a Church Father. That mix of brilliance and controversy gives the name real texture. Alternate meanings include highborn.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Born
- Pronunciation: OR-ih-jen
- Popularity: The federal data has no record for Origen; names given to fewer than five U.S. babies in a year are not published.
Orion
Orion was a giant hunter in Greek myth, and his belt is the first thing most people learn to find in a winter sky. Harry Potter and Men in Black both put the name in front of a modern audience. It has held a place among America’s most used boy names for years now without tipping into overexposure, and the astronomy link alone makes it a gift for a curious kid.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Dawning
- Pronunciation: oh-RYE-uhn
- Namesakes: Orion Acaba, an American voice actor known for his role in video games like Call of Duty.
- Popularity: Ranked #334 in the U.S. in 2025 per SSA data, below its best showing of #300 in 2018.
Orlando
Travelers will hear the Florida city, though the name is far older than the theme parks. Shakespeare gave it to a character in As You Like It, and namesake actors, athletes, writers, and singers have kept it in circulation since. Orlando Bloom, the British actor of Pirates of the Caribbean fame, is the current reference point for most people. It means famous throughout the land, and it has more or less made that true.
- Origin: Italian, Spanish
- Meaning: Famous throughout the land
- Pronunciation: or-LAN-doh
- Namesakes: Orlando Bloom, a British actor known for his role in Pirates of the Caribbean.
- Popularity: SSA data has Orlando at #873 in 2025, with births over the last decade down 40% on the decade before.
Ormond
Ormond once denoted a noble title, as in the Earl of Ormond. Ormond Hill still stands in Scotland where Ormond Castle used to be, so there is somewhere to visit if he ever asks. The Irish reading of the name is red, which makes it a knowing pick for a redheaded boy. You are far likelier to meet an Ormond as a surname, which is exactly why it works up front.
- Origin: Irish, English, Gaelic
- Meaning: Mountain of bears
- Pronunciation: OR-muhnd
- Popularity: SSA records last list Ormond in 2000, at #9,997; it has not met the five birth threshold since.
Ornet
Ornet is an ultra rare variation of Arnett, and it is about as far off the beaten track as O names get. It means little eagle, which is a gentle version of a bird most naming traditions treat as fierce. Eagles carry associations with independence and grace, both worth wishing on a son. If you want a name nobody will guess the spelling of, this is your candidate.
- Origin: French, English
- Meaning: Little eagle
- Pronunciation: OR-net
- Popularity: Ornet stays under the SSA’s publication line of five U.S. births in a year, so no rank exists for it.
Orpheus
In Greek myth, Orpheus was the musician nobody could resist, able to play anything put in front of him. His name refers to the darkness of night, which gives it a moody streak that the music does not soften. Orpheus Pledger, an Australian actor, is a rare modern bearer. It is a big name for a baby, and it grows into itself quickly.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: The darkness of the night
- Pronunciation: OR-fee-uhs
- Namesakes: Orpheus Pledger, an Australian actor known for his role in Silversun.
- Popularity: No recent U.S. record: the SSA last published Orpheus in 2024, at #13,719.
Orrel
Orrel refers to the national bird, the eagle, through its Russian and Slavic roots. It usually turns up as a surname. A boy carrying it up front will be the only one. Alternate meanings include golden, which is a warm reading for a much loved child. It has a vintage flavor without belonging to any particular decade.
- Origin: Russian, Slavic
- Meaning: Eagle
- Pronunciation: OR-ruhl
- Popularity: SSA records last list Orrel in 1920, at #4,797; it has not met the five birth threshold since.
Orry
Surname style first names keep gaining ground, and even in that company Orry is scarce. Orry Main from the novel and television series North and South is the one bearer most people can name, portrayed as loyal and steady. Its meaning, God’s peace, is about as calm as a name can get. It sounds like a nickname already, which saves you the trouble of inventing one.
- Origin: Manx, Gaelic
- Meaning: God’s peace
- Pronunciation: OR-ee
- Popularity: SSA records put Orry at #11,644 among U.S. boys in 2025, with 6 born that year.
Orson
Orson brings old Hollywood with it: black and white film, radio, and Orson Welles, whose War of the Worlds broadcast famously unsettled a nation. Orson Scott Card, an American writer known for his science-fiction novels, gives it a second literary anchor. Its meaning, bear cub, may come from a tale about a boy carried off and raised in a den. Like a well loved teddy bear, an Orson will never want for affection.
- Origin: Latin, English, French
- Meaning: Bear cub
- Pronunciation: OR-suhn
- Variations: Orsen
- Namesakes: Orson Scott Card, an American writer known for his science-fiction novels.
- Popularity: 126 U.S. boys were named Orson in 2025, ranking it #1,433 nationally in SSA data.
Ortiz
Ortiz is among authentic Spanish names for boys that start with O. Famous bearers are plentiful, including Jorge Ortiz, a Spanish football player, and Opie Ortiz, an American tattoo artist. That range means your son can pick whichever version of the name’s reputation suits him. Its meaning, son of Orti, keeps it firmly in surname territory, which is the current fashion.
- Origin: Spanish
- Meaning: Son of Orti
- Pronunciation: or-TEEZ
- Popularity: SSA records last list Ortiz in 1976, at #4,783; it has not met the five birth threshold since.
Orville
For most Americans, Orville arrives with a bowl of popcorn attached, courtesy of Orville Redenbacher. The far bigger claim is Orville Wright, who got a machine off the ground at Kitty Hawk. There is a pattern of inventive minds carrying this name, which is a good omen. Its meaning, gold town, suggests you have struck it rich, which you have.
- Origin: French
- Meaning: Gold town
- Pronunciation: OR-vihl
- Variations: Orvill, Orvil
- Namesakes: Orville Gibson, the American founder of Gibson Guitars.
- Popularity: SSA data has Orville at #6,347 in 2025, with births over the last decade up 28% on the decade before.
Osbert
Osbert has served British rulers and members of Parliament, so it comes with a certain amount of paneling and portraiture, and Osbert Lancaster, a British cartoonist, author, and historian, is the most quotable bearer. Its meaning, divinely brilliant, is a bold thing to hand a baby, and he has a lifetime to grow into it. Bert keeps him from having to explain it at every introduction.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: God bright, divinely brilliant
- Pronunciation: AHZ-bert
- Variations: Osburt
- Namesakes: Osbert Lancaster, a British cartoon artist, author, and historian.
- Popularity: No recent U.S. record: the SSA last published Osbert in 2008, at #12,171.
Osborne
Osborne is a surname that makes a fine standalone first name, currently ranked #4,663 among U.S. boys in 2025, well below its 1915 peak of #913. Ozzy is the standard nickname, with all the rock star baggage that implies. Alternate meanings include divine bear, which suits a sturdy baby. It sounds established without sounding stuffy.
- Origin: English, Norse
- Meaning: Divine warrior
- Pronunciation: AHZ-born
- Variations: Osbourne, Osborn
- Namesakes: Osborne Smith, an American baseball player.
- Popularity: 22 U.S. boys were named Osborne in 2025, ranking it #4,663 nationally in SSA data.
Oscar
Oscar has drawn a steady stream of celebrity parents, including Gordon Ramsay, Robin Tunney, and Hugh Jackman, and the award of the same name never hurts. Irish myth casts Oscar as a great warrior, which gives the five letters some steel. Oscar de la Hoya, the American boxer, keeps that association current. Alternate meanings include deer lover, a softer note for the future naturalist.
- Origin: Irish, Scandinavian
- Meaning: God’s spear, champion warrior
- Pronunciation: AHS-ker
- Namesakes: Oscar de la Hoya, an American boxer.
- Popularity: Ranked #223 in the U.S. in 2025 per SSA data, below its best showing of #76 in 1913.
Osgood
Osgood is a fine pick for a creative kid, since its meaning points to a divine creator. Parents hoping for a painter or a musician in the house will like the suggestion. Alternate meanings include a reference to Gothic art, which gives the name an unexpectedly moody streak. Osgood Perkins, an American actor, is the bearer most likely to come up.
- Origin: English, Teutonic
- Meaning: Divine creator
- Pronunciation: AHZ-good
- Variations: Osgod
- Namesakes: Osgood Perkins, an American actor known for his role in Legally Blonde.
- Popularity: No recent U.S. record: the SSA last published Osgood in 1919, at #4,642.
Oshea
Oshea lets Irish heritage and faith sit in the same name without either crowding the other. A variant of Joshua, it is also an Irish surname when spelled O’shea. Alternate meanings include fine and fortunate, so the whole name leans optimistic. It has as many layers as the boy carrying it.
- Origin: Hebrew, Irish
- Meaning: Yahweh is salvation
- Pronunciation: oh-SHAY
- Variations: O’shea
- Popularity: SSA records put Oshea at #2,507 among U.S. boys in 2025, with 54 born that year.
Osiris
Osiris is a central figure of ancient Egyptian myth. The story around him shaped how Egyptians thought about rebirth and the afterlife. That myth has proved durable enough to keep resurfacing, most recently through comics. Parents drawn to mythology names that are not Greek or Norse tend to arrive here. Si makes an unusual and easy short form.
- Origin: Egyptian
- Meaning: Powerful, mighty
- Pronunciation: oh-SYE-riss
- Namesakes: Osiris Eldridge, an American basketball player.
- Popularity: 200 U.S. boys were named Osiris in 2025, ranking it #1,077 nationally in SSA data.
Osman
Once mostly heard in Arabic countries, Osman has been settling into American use. It is a surname as well, though it is used more often up front. Sultans and politicians have carried it, which gives it an air of consequence. If the edgy meaning is too much, the alternate reading is God’s protection.
- Origin: Arabic, Scandinavian
- Meaning: Son of a snake
- Pronunciation: AHS-mahn, OHZ-men
- Namesakes: Osman Dikic, a Bosnian poet and writer.
- Popularity: Ranked #1,157 in the U.S. in 2025 per SSA data, below its best showing of #977 in 2022.
Osric
You already suspect your son will run the household, so Osric, meaning divine ruler, simply makes it official. Shakespeare wrote an Osric into Hamlet, which gives the name a stage history. Osric Chau, a Canadian actor known for Supernatural, is the modern bearer. Ric keeps it plain for daily use.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Divine ruler
- Pronunciation: AHS-rihk
- Variations: Osrick
- Namesakes: Osric Chau, a Canadian actor known for his role in Supernatural.
- Popularity: Current U.S. use is steady: #8,069 in 2025, per SSA birth records.
Ossie
Ossie sounds Australian to American ears, which is a happy accident rather than the origin. It began as a short form for Oscar or Oswald and has enough personality to stand alone. Ossie Davis, the American actor and activist, is the bearer worth telling a child about. It reads unisex and is rare for either.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: Divine power
- Pronunciation: AHS-ee
- Namesakes: Ossie Davis, an American actor known for his activism.
- Popularity: Ossie last appears in U.S. birth data in 2014 (#13,513), after a best rank of #1,060 in 1919.
Ostin
Ostin is the sideways spelling of Austin, and it is one of the loftier boy names that start with O. Parents who like a familiar name with a twist will find it does the job without inventing anything. Its strong meaning, great or magnificent, backs up the confidence. Expect to spell it out, forever.
- Origin: French
- Meaning: Great, magnificent
- Pronunciation: OH-stihn
- Popularity: 23 U.S. boys were named Ostin in 2025, ranking it #4,498 nationally in SSA data.
Osvaldo
Osvaldo is the Italian and Spanish relative of Oswaldo. Christian families like its reference to God’s power, which suits a baby who took a while to arrive. The multicultural roots mean it travels well across the Americas and Europe, where Ozzy and Valdo both work as nicknames.
- Origin: Italian, Spanish, Portuguese
- Meaning: God’s power
- Pronunciation: AHS-val-doh
- Variations: Oswaldo
- Popularity: Ranked #1,408 in the U.S. in 2025 per SSA data, below its best showing of #410 in 2004.
Otello
Otello is the streamlined Italian form of Othello. Opera lovers will point straight to Verdi’s Otello, built on Shakespeare’s play, which gives the name a grand entrance. Otello Toso, an Italian actor, is a quieter bearer. Tello is the nickname, and it is adorable.
- Origin: Italian
- Meaning: Wealth, fortune
- Pronunciation: oh-TEL-oh
- Variations: Othello
- Namesakes: Otello Toso, an Italian actor known for his role in Desert Desperadoes.
- Popularity: Otello last appears in U.S. birth data in 1929 (#3,848), after a best rank of #3,848 in 1929.
Othmar
Othmar suits a boy with unusual composure. The most notable bearer is Saint Othmar, a medieval priest usually depicted holding a barrel, a sign that he always had enough to share. Othmar Schoeck, a Swiss classical composer, adds a musical line. Generosity is a fine thing for a name to keep suggesting.
- Origin: Arabic, Hebrew, German
- Meaning: Prosperity, eloquent
- Pronunciation: ATH-mar
- Variations: Ottmar, Otmar
- Namesakes: Othmar Schoeck, a Swiss classical composer.
- Popularity: No recent U.S. record: the SSA last published Othmar in 1932, at #2,590.
Othniel
Othniel appears in the Bible as one of the first judges, back when a judge was also a ruler and a military leader. That combination is likely where the meaning, lion of God, comes from. Lions stand for strength and loyalty, both good things to hang over a crib. Othniel Looker, the fifth governor of Ohio, is a rare later bearer.
- Origin: Hebrew
- Meaning: Lion of God, strength of God
- Pronunciation: ATH-nee-el, OTH-nee-el
- Namesakes: Othniel Looker, the 5th governor of Ohio.
- Popularity: 47 U.S. boys were named Othniel in 2025, ranking it #2,746 nationally in SSA data.
Otis
Anyone who grew up in the nineties will hear Milo and Otis first, which is a warm place to start. Hollywood has kept the name busy, with Otises turning up in The Walking Dead and Chicago Fire, and Tobey Maguire and Olivia Wilde both chose it for their sons. Otis Rush, an American blues guitarist, gives it real musical credibility. Odie is the nickname most families reach for.
- Origin: German, English
- Meaning: Wealthy, son of Ode
- Pronunciation: OH-tiss
- Namesakes: Otis Rush, an American blues guitarist.
- Popularity: Ranked #652 in the U.S. in 2025 per SSA data, below its best showing of #140 in 1913.
Overton
Overton began as a description of someone living near a riverbank town. It still sounds like a place on a map. You will rarely meet one, though plenty of families carry it as a surname. The football player Don Overton, who played for both the Patriots and the Lions, is the best known bearer. It suits parents who want three syllables with no fuss inside them.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: From the riverbank town
- Pronunciation: OH-ver-tuhn
- Namesakes: Overton Vertis Wright, an American singer and blues artist.
- Popularity: No recent U.S. record: the SSA last published Overton in 2003, at #12,251.
Ovie
Native to Nigeria, Ovie is among the most charming boy names with O, and it means king. It appeals to parents who want an African name that will not be mangled in an American classroom. Ovie Soko’s turn on Love Island in 2019 gave it a burst of attention. Two syllables, warm sound, and a meaning nobody needs explained.
- Origin: Nigerian, Urhobo
- Meaning: King
- Pronunciation: oh-VEE
- Variations: Ovey
- Popularity: SSA records put Ovie at #8,738 among U.S. boys in 2025, with 9 born that year.
Owen
Owen has been near the top of American name charts for a long stretch and shows no interest in leaving; it stood at #31 in 2025, one of only two names here inside the top 100. It was a Renaissance surname, sometimes spelled Owens, before it became a first name. Owen Wilson keeps it familiar, and Owen Wister, who wrote The Virginian, keeps it literary. Its meaning, young warrior, has aged better than most.
- Origin: Welsh, Celtic
- Meaning: Young warrior
- Pronunciation: oh-WEHN
- Namesakes: Owen Wister, an American author who wrote The Virginian.
- Popularity: 7,190 U.S. boys were named Owen in 2025, ranking it #31 nationally in SSA data.
Oxford
Oxford is best known as the English college town, so the name arrives wearing a scarf. Parents who studied there, or simply loved the place, use it as a private commemoration. It is the rarest recorded name on this list, ranking #13,386 among American boys in 2025. The place name still reads clearly as a first name, scarf or not.
- Origin: English
- Meaning: From the oxen crossing
- Pronunciation: AHKS-ford
- Popularity: Ranked #13,386 in the U.S. in 2025 per SSA data, below its best showing of #6,206 in 2020.
Ozias
Ozias is the son of the biblical Joram, sometimes called Uzziah, so it comes with scriptural roots and an unfamiliar sound. O names with a Z in them read as sharp and current, which is much of the draw here. Alternate meanings include strength from the Lord. Ozzy is right there when he wants something shorter.
- Origin: Greek
- Meaning: Salvation
- Pronunciation: OH-zye-us
- Variations: Osias
- Namesakes: Ozias Leduc, a Canadian painter who specialized in still life.
- Popularity: SSA data has Ozias at #708 in 2025, with births over the last decade up 582% on the decade before.
