This list includes 47 Male names that start with O, from “Oakes” to “Ozias”. The names range from classic and biblical to modern and culturally specific choices, useful for parents, writers, and genealogists. Use it to find name ideas, research origins, or pick character names quickly.
Male names that start with O are personal names given to males that begin with the letter O. Many come from diverse languages—examples like “Oscar” and “Omar” show literary and historical reach.
Below you’ll find the table with Name, Origin, Meaning, and Notable bearer.
Name: The actual given name starting with O, so you can scan and pick the exact spelling you prefer.
Origin: The language or culture the name comes from, helping you understand background and cultural context.
Meaning: A concise definition or translation of the name, so you know the significance behind the choice.
Notable bearer: A famous or historical person with the name, giving you real-world associations and inspiration.
Male names that start with O
| Name | Origin | Meaning | Popularity / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oliver | Latin / Norman French | Olive tree planter | Top 10 in the US; SSA rank 3 (2023) |
| Owen | Welsh / Irish | Noble-born; yew tree | Top 25 in the US; SSA rank 21 (2023) |
| Oscar | Irish / Norse | Deer friend; champion warrior | Top 250 in the US; SSA rank 233 (2023) |
| Omar | Arabic / Hebrew | Flourishing, long-lived; speaker | Consistently popular; SSA rank 228 (2023) |
| Orion | Greek | Boundary, limit; constellation name | Rising in popularity; SSA rank 289 (2023) |
| Otto | German | Wealth, fortune | Stylish vintage choice; SSA rank 270 (2023) |
| Odin | Old Norse | Inspiration, rage, frenzy | Increasingly popular; SSA rank 326 (2023) |
| Otis | German | Wealth, fortune | Revived classic; SSA rank 549 (2023) |
| Onyx | Greek | Fingernail, claw (gemstone) | Modern and trendy; SSA rank 295 (2023) |
| Oakley | Old English | Oak clearing | Trendy and popular; SSA rank 204 (2023) |
| Orlando | Italian / German | Famous land | Classic and established; SSA rank 545 (2023) |
| Osiris | Egyptian | Mighty; powerful (possible meaning) | Unique mythological choice; SSA rank 838 (2023) |
| Oisín | Irish | Little deer | Very common in Ireland; rare in the US |
| Octavio | Latin | Eighth | Common in Spanish-speaking countries; SSA rank 868 (2023) |
| Oren | Hebrew / Irish | Pine tree; pale-skinned | Quietly used; SSA rank 929 (2023) |
| Ocean | English / Greek | The great body of salt water | Modern nature name; SSA rank 1,003 (2023) |
| Oleg | Old Norse / Russian | Holy, sacred | Common in Eastern Europe; rare in the US |
| Odhran | Irish | Pale green, sallow | Popular in Ireland; rare elsewhere |
| Osvaldo | Old English / Old Norse | God’s power; god’s rule | Used in Italy and Spanish-speaking countries; SSA rank 1,740 (2023) |
| Ollie | English | Diminutive of Oliver | Popular nickname and standalone name; SSA rank 496 (2023) |
| Orson | Latin | Bear cub | Uncommon but established; rare today |
| Obadiah | Hebrew | Servant of God | Biblical and rare |
| Olaf | Old Norse | Ancestor’s descendant | Classic in Scandinavia; known globally via Disney |
| Osman | Arabic | Tender youth; a type of bird | Common in Turkey and the Muslim world |
| Octavius | Latin | Eighth | Historic and rare |
| Odysseus | Greek | To be angry, to hate | Mythological and very rare |
| Owain | Welsh | Noble-born; yew tree | Classic Welsh name; rare outside Wales |
| Oskar | German / Scandinavian / Polish | Deer friend; champion warrior | Common in Europe; less common than Oscar in the US |
| Omer | Hebrew | Sheaf of wheat | Common in Israel and Turkey (Ömer) |
| Orville | French | Golden town | Historic; rare today |
| Orestes | Greek | He who stands on the mountain | Mythological and very rare |
| Ozias | Hebrew | My strength is Yahweh | Biblical and rare |
| Obi | Igbo | Heart, mind, soul | Used in Nigeria; known from Star Wars |
| Oslo | Old Norse | Meadow of the gods | Trendy place name; used but rare |
| Oluwaseun | Yoruba | We thank God | Common in Nigeria; rare in the US |
| Osamu | Japanese | Discipline, study, to rule | A classic name in Japan |
| Ole | Danish / Norwegian | Ancestor’s descendant | Very common in Scandinavia |
| Oz | Hebrew | Strength, courage | Modern and short; often a nickname |
| Ogden | Old English | Oak valley | Surname-as-name; rare |
| Ori | Hebrew | My light | Popular in Israel |
| Oakes | Old English | From the oak tree | Surname-as-name; rare but rising |
| Osmond | Old English | God’s protection | Historic surname and given name; rare today |
| Obinna | Igbo | Father’s heart | Common in Nigeria |
| Olufemi | Yoruba | The Lord loves me | Common in Nigeria |
| Ovid | Latin | Shepherd; sheep | Historic and extremely rare |
| Onesimus | Greek | Profitable, useful | Biblical and very rare |
| Ollivander | Literary / Latin | He who owns the olive wand | Literary name; extremely rare |
Descriptions
Oliver
A classic, globally popular name. Famous bearers include Oliver Cromwell and character Oliver Twist. It has a friendly, sophisticated feel and numerous literary connections.
Owen
A strong yet gentle Welsh name, a form of Owain. Popularized by actor Owen Wilson. It’s a classic choice that feels both ancient and modern.
Oscar
A name with dual Irish and Norse roots, borne by writer Oscar Wilde. Popular internationally and associated with the prestigious Academy Awards (“Oscars”).
Omar
A powerful name with rich history in both Arabic and Hebrew traditions. Famous bearers include poet Omar Khayyam and actor Omar Sharif.
Orion
The mythological name of a giant hunter placed among the stars. It has a celestial, powerful, and modern feel, appealing to parents looking for unique names.
Otto
A strong, palindromic name of German kings and emperors. It feels both vintage and modern, and is a popular choice across Europe and North America.
Odin
The name of the chief god in Norse mythology, associated with wisdom, war, and magic. A powerful and bold choice for parents interested in mythology.
Otis
A short form of the German name Odo. It has a cool, soulful vibe thanks to singer Otis Redding. The name has seen a major comeback in recent years.
Onyx
A modern, gender-neutral but male-leaning name derived from the dark gemstone. It has a sleek, strong, and edgy sound that appeals to contemporary tastes.
Oakley
A nature-inspired English surname now popular as a given name. It has a friendly, outdoorsy feel and is considered unisex, though more common for boys.
Orlando
The romantic Italian form of Roland. It has strong literary ties to Shakespeare and Virginia Woolf. Actor Orlando Bloom is a famous bearer.
Osiris
The name of the Egyptian god of the underworld, rebirth, and fertility. It’s a powerful and dramatic name with deep ancient roots.
Oisín
A major figure in Irish mythology, son of Fionn mac Cumhaill. Pronounced “osh-EEN.” It’s a classic Irish name with a gentle, poetic feel.
Octavio
The Spanish and Portuguese form of Octavius, traditionally given to the eighth son. Mexican poet Octavio Paz is a Nobel Prize-winning bearer.
Oren
A gentle name with dual origins. In Hebrew, it’s a nature name, while the Irish Oren is a variant of Odhran. It has a calm, earthy feel.
Ocean
A bold and expansive name derived from the Greek god Oceanus. Used for both genders, it evokes a sense of calm, depth, and power.
Oleg
Derived from the Old Norse name Helgi. Oleg of Novgorod was a 9th-century prince who founded Kievan Rus’. A strong and historic Slavic choice.
Odhran
Pronounced “O-ran” or “OR-in.” An ancient Irish name borne by several saints. It’s a classic with deep historical roots in Ireland.
Osvaldo
The Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese form of Oswald. It has a strong, classic European feel and is associated with Saint Oswald of Northumbria.
Ollie
A friendly and approachable diminutive of Oliver. It’s increasingly popular as a standalone name, sharing the charm of its source but with a more casual feel.
Orson
A name with a strong but gentle meaning. Its most famous bearer is the legendary director and actor Orson Welles. It has a distinguished, classic Hollywood feel.
Obadiah
An Old Testament prophet’s name. It has a formal, traditional sound and is often shortened to the friendly nickname Obi. A solid, historic choice.
Olaf
A classic Scandinavian royal name. Modern fame comes from the snowman in Disney’s *Frozen*, giving it a friendly, cheerful image.
Osman
A variant of Uthman, borne by the founder of the Ottoman Empire, Osman I. A name with immense historical weight and significance.
Octavius
An ancient Roman family name, famously borne by the first Roman Emperor, Augustus. It has a distinguished, classical, and powerful sound.
Odysseus
The legendary Greek hero of Homer’s *The Odyssey*, known for his intellect, cunning, and long journey home. An epic and scholarly choice.
Owain
The original Welsh form of Owen. A name of Welsh heroes and kings, including Owain Glyndŵr, the last native Prince of Wales.
Oskar
A popular spelling variation of Oscar across much of Europe. It feels slightly sharper and more international than its ‘c’ counterpart.
Omer
A Hebrew name with biblical origins, referring to a unit of grain. It’s a gentle but strong name that’s popular in modern Israel.
Orville
An aristocratic-sounding name, likely invented by author Fanny Burney. Its most famous bearer is Orville Wright, one of the pioneers of aviation.
Orestes
A figure in Greek mythology, the son of Agamemnon who avenged his father’s murder. A dramatic and powerful name with deep literary roots.
Ozias
A Greek form of the Hebrew name Uzziah, borne by a king of Judah in the Old Testament. A unique biblical choice that can be shortened to Oz.
Obi
A short and powerful Igbo name from Nigeria. Gained massive global recognition as the name of the Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi from the Star Wars franchise.
Oslo
A cool and stylish place name, after the capital of Norway. It fits in with other trendy two-syllable, O-ending names like Arlo and Milo.
Oluwaseun
A popular Nigerian name from the Yoruba people. It expresses gratitude and is often shortened to Seun. A meaningful name with deep cultural roots.
Osamu
A common Japanese name with several possible meanings. Borne by famed director Osamu Tezuka, known as the “Godfather of Manga.”
Ole
A short and classic Scandinavian name, a variation of Olaf. Pronounced “OO-leh.” It’s a friendly and timeless choice in its native countries.
Oz
A short Hebrew name that’s both powerful and playful. Often a nickname for names like Oswald or Ozias, but stands strong on its own.
Ogden
An English surname derived from a place name. It has a distinguished and slightly quirky feel, famously borne by the poet Ogden Nash.
Ori
A simple and appealing Hebrew name with a beautiful meaning. Pronounced “OR-ee,” it is short, sweet, and works well internationally.
Oakes
A strong, nature-inspired English surname. It has a sturdy, grounded, and sophisticated feel, similar to Brooks or Hayes.
Osmond
An ancient English name. It’s more familiar as the surname of the famous musical family, The Osmonds. It has a distinguished, slightly formal feel.
Obinna
A popular Nigerian name from the Igbo people, signifying the importance of a son to his father. It carries a sense of heritage and familial love.
Olufemi
A Yoruba name expressing a personal relationship with God. Often shortened to Femi. A beautiful, meaningful choice with strong cultural ties.
Ovid
The name of a famous 1st-century Roman poet, known for works like *Metamorphoses*. It’s a highly literary and classical choice for the bold.
Onesimus
A name from the New Testament, borne by a runaway slave who converted to Christianity. A unique choice with deep religious significance.
Ollivander
Made famous by the wandmaker Garrick Ollivander in the Harry Potter series. It is an elaborate and magical-sounding name, rarely used but instantly recognizable to fans.