Óscar

Óscar is a masculine given name used in Spanish-speaking countries and in Portuguese-speaking contexts. It is the Spanish form of the English name Oscar and is common in Spain, Latin America, and other Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking communities.

Etymology and origins: The exact origin of Oscar is uncertain. The name is believed to derive from medieval European forms with possible Gaelic or Norse influences, but there is no consensus on a single origin or meaning. In Spanish, Óscar is pronounced with the stress on the first syllable.

Usage and cultural notes: In modern times the name has remained common across Spanish-speaking regions since the 20th century. In Spanish-language media, the term Óscar is also used to refer to the Academy Award, the annual film prize presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Notable people:

- Óscar Arias Sánchez (born 1940), Costa Rican politician and Nobel Peace Prize laureate (1987).

- Óscar Romero (1917–1980), Archbishop of San Salvador; canonized as a saint in 2018.

- Óscar de la Renta (1932–2014), Dominican-American fashion designer.

- Óscar Pareja (born 1966), Colombian football manager and former player.

- Óscar Washington Tabárez (born 1946), Uruguayan football manager and former player.

- Óscar Isaac Hernández Colón (born 1969), better known as Oscar Isaac, Guatemalan-American actor.