This list includes 30 American boy names that start with O, from “Obadiah” to “Ozzie”. These names range from biblical and traditional choices to modern nicknames, useful for naming, research, and inspiration.
American boy names that start with O are names used for boys in the United States that begin with “O”. They range from Biblical choices like “Obadiah” to familiar nicknames such as “Ozzie”.
Below you’ll find the table with Name, Pronunciation, Origin/Meaning, Popularity, and Source.
Name: The given name as used in the U.S., shown in quotes so you can scan and compare options quickly.
Pronunciation: A simple phonetic rendering helps you say each name correctly and decide which sounds suit your family.
Origin/Meaning: Brief origin and meaning explain cultural roots and significance so you can understand the name’s history and context.
Popularity: Short notes on U.S. usage or SSA ranking show how common a name is and help you weigh uniqueness.
Source: Cited sources indicate where the name data and meanings come from, letting you verify or explore further details easily.
American boy names that start with O
| Name | Pronunciation | Origin/Meaning | Popularity (U.S.) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oliver | OH-liv-er | Old German/Latin/French, “olive tree” | Rank 3 (2023) | Very popular modern classic in the U.S.; many nicknames (Ollie). Widely used across communities. Source: SSA 2023 |
| Owen | OH-en | Welsh, “young warrior” or “well-born” | Rank 18 (2023) | Longstanding favorite in English-speaking America; simple, familiar sound. Variants: Owain. Source: SSA 2023 |
| Oscar | OSS-kar | Old Irish/Gaelic, “deer friend” | Rank 63 (2023) | Popular and vintage-feeling; used across Hispanic and Anglo communities. Variants: Óscar. Source: SSA 2023 |
| Omar | OH-mar | Arabic, “flourishing, long-lived” | Rank 246 (2023) | Common in Arab-American and wider U.S. use; strong, one-syllable name. Source: SSA 2023 |
| Orion | oh-RYE-un | Greek, “son of fire” or mythic hunter | Rank 264 (2023) | Starry, mythic choice that has risen in the U.S.; stylish and modern. Source: SSA 2023 |
| Otto | OT-oh | Germanic, “wealth, prosperity” | Rank 184 (2023) | Retro revival name with a crisp two-syllable feel; nickname-friendly. Source: SSA 2023 |
| Odin | OH-din | Old Norse, name of the Norse chief god | Rank 229 (2023) | Increasingly used in the U.S.; mythic and bold. Source: SSA 2023 |
| Otis | OH-tiss | Old English/Germanic, “wealth, fortunate” | Rank 411 (2023) | Vintage southern/Blues-associated name making a comeback. Familiar and rhythmic. Source: SSA 2023 |
| Orlando | or-LAN-doh | Italian/Spanish form of Roland, “famous land” | Rank 701 (2023) | Recognizable from Shakespeare and city name; used in Hispanic and Anglo communities. Source: SSA 2023 |
| Osvaldo | os-VAL-doh | Spanish/Portuguese form of Oswald, “god-ruler” | Rank 829 (2023) | Common in Latino communities; formal and traditional. Source: SSA 2023 |
| Oswaldo | os-WAL-doh | Variant of Osvaldo, “god-ruler” | Rank 854 (2023) | Alternative Spanish/Latino form; used in U.S. Spanish-speaking families. Source: SSA 2023 |
| Oswald | OSS-wald | Old English, “god + ruler” | Unranked | Old English name with vintage, slightly formal feel; used sporadically in the U.S. Source: BehindTheName |
| Oren | OH-ren | Hebrew, “pine tree” | Unranked | Simple biblical/Hebrew name used by Jewish families and others in the U.S. Source: BehindTheName |
| Orson | OR-sun | Latin/French, “bear cub” | Unranked | Literary and quirky vintage name (actor Orson Welles); rare but established. Source: BehindTheName |
| Olin | OH-lin | Scandinavian/Old Norse or Gaelic, “ancestor’s descendant” | Unranked | Short, smooth name used in rural and urban U.S.; occasional surname-to-first-name usage. Source: Name dictionaries |
| Olaf | OH-lahf | Old Norse, “ancestor’s relic” or “heir” | Unranked | Scandinavian import used by Nordic-American families; recognizable from pop culture. Source: U.S. Census/Name dictionaries |
| Oleg | oh-LEG | Slavic (from Old Norse Helgi), “holy, blessed” | Unranked | Common among Russian-heritage families in the U.S.; clearly masculine. Source: U.S. Census / BehindTheName |
| Obadiah | oh-buh-DYE-uh | Hebrew, “servant of Yahweh” | Unranked | Biblical, somewhat old-fashioned; used by some American families seeking religious names. Source: BehindTheName |
| Octavian | ock-TAY-vee-ən | Latin, “eighth” | Unranked | Roman-flavored, classical choice sometimes used for distinctive appeal in the U.S. Source: Name dictionaries |
| Octavius | ock-TAY-vee-əs | Latin, “eighth” | Unranked | Grand, classical Roman name used occasionally as a statement name. Source: BehindTheName |
| Othello | oh-THEL-oh | Possibly Gothic/Arabic via Shakespeare; famous literary name | Unranked | Best known from Shakespeare; used rarely as a bold literary choice in the U.S. Source: Literary records |
| Orville | OR-vil | French/Old French toponym, “golden town” (est.) | Unranked | Vintage American name with 19th–20th-century usage; familiar but uncommon today. Source: U.S. Census |
| Odell | oh-DEL | English surname/place-name used as a given name | Unranked | Surname-first-name trend; used in the U.S., often Southern. Source: U.S. Census / Name dictionaries |
| Odis | OH-dis | Variant of Otis or Odysseus-influenced; American usage | Unranked | Rare but recorded in U.S. birth data; short, distinctive. Source: U.S. name databases |
| Orin | OR-in | Gaelic or Hebrew roots; “pale” or “pine tree” (varied) | Unranked | Literary and Irish-influenced forms appear in U.S. records; understated choice. Source: BehindTheName |
| Osric | OSS-rik | Old English, “divine ruler” | Unranked | Very rare medieval name occasionally used by parents seeking archaic/epic names. Source: Name dictionaries |
| Osman | oz-MAN | Turkish/Arabic (from Uthman), historic Muslim name | Unranked | Used by Turkish and Muslim-American communities; documented in U.S. records. Source: U.S. Census / BehindTheName |
| Ozzie | OZ-ee | Diminutive of Oswald/Osborne (used standalone in U.S.) | Unranked | Often a nickname but appears as a legal given name in U.S. records; playful, familiar. Source: U.S. birth records / Name sites |
| Ozias | oh-ZY-əs | Greek/Hebrew origin (variant of Uzziah), “strength of God” | Unranked | Biblical-classical hybrid used rarely in the U.S.; antique and distinctive. Source: BehindTheName |
| Oran | OR-an | Gaelic, “little pale one” or Irish place-name | Unranked | Short Irish name with rare U.S. usage; gentle, melodic. Source: Name dictionaries |
Descriptions
Oliver
Owen
Oscar
Omar
Orion
Otto
Odin
Otis
Orlando
Osvaldo
Oswaldo
Oswald
Oren
Orson
Olin
Olaf
Oleg
Obadiah
Octavian
Octavius
Othello
Orville
Odell
Odis
Orin
Osric
Osman
Ozzie
Ozias
Oran