Fun Facts About the Name Oberon
- 283 babies named Oberon: U.S. records list 283 babies given the name Oberon from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Oberon Mean?
Oberon is the English form of the Old French Auberon, a name built from Germanic elements: *albaz, meaning "elf," and *rīks, meaning "ruler, king." The literal sense is therefore "elf-ruler" or "king of the elves." The first element is sometimes translated as "bright" or "white spirit," since the Germanic word carried both a supernatural and a shining sense, but in this compound it refers to an elf.
The same Germanic compound underlies Old High German Alberich and Modern German Alberich, the dwarf who guards the Nibelung hoard. Oberon is the French branch of that name, not a form of some similar-looking name with a different origin. The second element, *rīks, also appears in the endings of names such as Frederick and Henry.
Oberon Name History & Origins
The name's documented history begins in medieval French literature rather than in English. In the Old French chanson de geste Huon de Bordeaux, from the 13th century, Auberon is the fairy king who aids the hero Huon of Bordeaux. In some versions of the legend he is the son of Julius Caesar and the fairy Morgan. From this French tradition the name entered English as Oberon.
Edmund Spenser included Oberon among the ancient kings in The Faerie Queene (1590), and William Shakespeare made him the fairy king and husband of Titania in A Midsummer Night's Dream (about 1595). Shakespeare's play is the best-known literary use of the name, but it is not the earliest; the French epic precedes it. Ben Jonson gave Oberon the title role of his court masque Oberon, the Faery Prince (1611).
The German cognate Alberich had its own literary life, appearing as a dwarf in the Nibelungenlied and in later German works. In the English-speaking world Oberon has remained chiefly a literary name. It was also given to one of the moons of Uranus, discovered in 1787 and later named for Shakespeare's fairy king, a use that follows the literary tradition rather than adding a new origin.
How Popular is the Name Oberon?
Oberon has historically been an exceptionally rare given name in the United States, remaining well outside the national mainstream. It saw its highest recorded annual births in 2021. Its best rank was #3,223 in 2021.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #5,544 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 2024 | #3,744 | 30 | 0.0017% |
| 2023 | #4,302 | 25 | 0.0015% |
| 2022 | #4,656 | 22 | 0.0013% |
| 2021 | #3,223 | 37 | 0.0021% |
| 2020 | #5,176 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 2019 | #4,074 | 26 | 0.0014% |
| 2018 | #4,187 | 25 | 0.0014% |
| 2017 | #5,058 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 2016 | #6,258 | 14 | 0.0007% |
| 2015 | #7,402 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2014 | #9,386 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2013 | #11,770 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2012 | #9,472 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 2009 | #12,059 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2008 | #14,048 | 5 | 0.0002% |
| 2007 | #11,952 | 6 | 0.0003% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
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How the Name Oberon Shapes Your Personality and Life?
You are patient, persevering and strong willed. You are a good student, absorbing knowledge easily and retaining it well. You are either a saint or a sinner. You tend to hold things inside and suffer in silence. You are frank, methodical and believe in law, system and order.
You find the best contentment in life when you own your own home and provide well for your family and loved ones. You have a great sense of responsibility and duty. You are comforting, appreciative and affectionate. Your obligation in life is to hold justice and truth, and if you follow the Law, you can find the great happiness and satisfaction.
✦ Oberon's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Oberon's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.