English Names that Start With O

  1. Oscar
    • Origin:

      English or Irish
    • Meaning:

      "God spear, or deer-lover or champion warrior"
    • Description:

      Oscar is one of the most stylish Old Man Names of our era. While it's softened slightly in popularity over the past 20 years, that may be considered a very good thing.
  2. Olive
    • Origin:

      English, from Latin, nature name
    • Meaning:

      "olive tree"
    • Description:

      Though greatly overshadowed by the trendy Olivia, Olive has a quiet, subtle appeal of its own -- and is now enjoying a remarkable comeback. Olive is one of only four girl names starting with O on the US Top 1000. Cool couple Isla Fisher and Sacha Baron Cohen chose it for their daughter, reviving the name to stylishness, and now Drew Barrymore has a little Olive too, as has country singer Jake Owen.
  3. Oberon
    • Origin:

      Variation of Auberon
    • Meaning:

      "noble, bearlike"
    • Description:

      The Shakespearean character Oberon in A Midsummer Night's Dream is King of the Fairies, but the name, with its strong 'O' beginning, projects a far more virile image than that.
  4. Oakley
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "oak wood or clearing"
    • Description:

      As sturdy as Oak, but with stronger roots as a first name, Oakley ticks lots of boxes for modern trends. With its unisex vibe, it's nature-based meaning, it's surname-y feel, and it's popular -lee ending, it's not wonder Oakley is on the rise.
  5. Oakley
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "oak wood or clearing"
    • Description:

      Oakley, with its nature name roots and its Annie Oakley charm, is a hot name for both genders but more than twice as popular for girls. This name made it into the Top 1000 for the first time in 2013, one of only four girl names starting with O to rank that high. A decade letter, it's aiming for the Top 100.
  6. Oswald
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "divine power"
    • Description:

      Despite the success of so many O-starting boys names--Oliver, Owen, Otis, Oscar--Oswald has not yet shown any signs of resurrection, though he does have the animating nicknames Ozzie/Ozzy and Oz. The name has some literary cred--in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, Shakespeare's King Lear and a novel by H. G.Wells--and there was early cartoon character Oswald the Lucky Rabbit.
  7. Oswin
    • Origin:

      Old English
    • Meaning:

      "God's friend"
    • Description:

      Ancient name, near obsolete now, but could make a good alternative to Owen for the adventurous baby namer.
  8. Osmond
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "divine protection"
    • Description:

      Once too tightly tied to the aging musical clan featuring Donny and Marie, Osmond may now be able to escape that association and join the cooler group of Os and Oz names, which include Osgood, Ozias, and even Oswald.
  9. Osric
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "divine ruler"
    • Description:

      Clad in armor. But while this name may have been forbiddingly antiquated not that long ago, the connection to the trendy nickname Os or Oz makes it a real possibility.
  10. Oakes
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "near the oaks"
    • Description:

      One part nature name, one part surname name. Oakes gives you the best of both worlds.
  11. Odell
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "of the valley"
    • Description:

      Bland compared to the Irish-sounding O-starting names, but fans of football star Odell Beckham Jr. may like the name for other reasons.
  12. Ogden
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "from the oak valley"
    • Description:

      Rarely used surname, associated with humorous poet Ogden Nash.
  13. Oxford
    • Origin:

      English place-name
    • Meaning:

      "from the oxen crossing"
    • Description:

      High-collared and straightlaced, with the deadly "Ox" nickname.
  14. Odele
    • Origin:

      English from Greek
    • Meaning:

      "song"
    • Description:

      Sounds a lot like the recently revived Adele.
  15. Osborn
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "divine bear; divine warrior"
    • Description:

      A surname style choice that could get you nicknames Bear and Ozzy, which is pretty cool. It comes from the Old English variant of the Old Norse Ásbjǫrn, which was introduced to England after the Norman conquest and used occasionally as a given name ever since. Victorian author Elizabeth Gaskell used the spelling variation Osborne in her final novel, Wives and Daughters.
  16. Osbert
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "divinely brilliant"
    • Description:

      Some cutting-edge parents might revive Osbert as a substitute for Oscar. We like the "divinely brilliant" meaning. Cool or terminally nerdy? Your call.
  17. Ouida
    • Origin:

      English diminutive
    • Description:

      This Victorian pen name is the childish version of the novelist's real name, Louisa, but it has managed to gain a sophisticated image. Ouisa is a similar childhood nickname name.
  18. Onslow
    • Origin:

      English
    • Meaning:

      "from the zealous one's hill"
    • Description:

      A rare surname name that could follow in the footsteps of Harlow, Marlow, Winslow et al.
  19. Oberon
    • Origin:

      English spelling variation of Auberon
    • Meaning:

      "noble, bearlike"
    • Description:

      The name of the king of the fairies in Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream; could work just as well for your little sprite.