Fun Facts About the Name Oz
- 676 babies named Oz: U.S. records list 676 babies given the name Oz from 1880 through 2025.
What Does the Name Oz Mean?
Oz is a short name with more than one background. In Hebrew, עוֹז (oz) means 'strength,' 'might,' or 'power.' It comes from a root meaning to be strong, and in the Hebrew Bible it appears as a poetic noun for strength or refuge. Modern Hebrew uses Oz as a masculine given name. In English, Oz is also a familiar short form of names beginning with Os-, especially Oswald, Oscar, Osmond, and Osborn. In that use it has no separate meaning of its own; it stands for the longer name. A third association is literary: Oz is the magical land in L. Frank Baum's The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (1900), a place-name that is unrelated to the Hebrew word and the English nickname.
Oz Name History & Origins
The Hebrew word עוֹז belongs to the root עזז, which is ancient and appears in biblical poetry. Passages such as Exodus 15:2 and Psalm 29:11 use the word for strength or might. Modern Hebrew uses עוֹז, transliterated in English as Oz, as a masculine given name.
In English, Oz developed mainly as a nickname. It is a clipped form of Oswald, Oscar, Osmond, Osborn, and similar Os- names. The related familiar form Ozzy adds -y to the clipped stem. The literary Oz is a separate development. In L. Frank Baum's 1900 novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the magical land is called Oz; the story that Baum took the name from a filing drawer marked O-Z is an anecdote rather than documented history. The book and its 1939 film adaptation are the best-known source of Oz as a place-name in English. That literary use should not be confused with the older Hebrew name or the English nickname.
How Popular is the Name Oz?
Oz 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 2019. Its best rank was #2,792 in 2019.
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 | #3,490 | 33 | 0.0019% |
| 2024 | #3,075 | 40 | 0.0023% |
| 2023 | #3,098 | 40 | 0.0023% |
| 2022 | #3,392 | 35 | 0.0020% |
| 2021 | #3,226 | 37 | 0.0021% |
| 2020 | #3,322 | 34 | 0.0020% |
| 2019 | #2,792 | 45 | 0.0025% |
| 2018 | #3,037 | 39 | 0.0021% |
| 2017 | #3,566 | 31 | 0.0017% |
| 2016 | #3,861 | 28 | 0.0015% |
| 2015 | #4,258 | 24 | 0.0013% |
| 2014 | #3,755 | 28 | 0.0015% |
| 2013 | #4,277 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 2012 | #4,637 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 2011 | #4,317 | 23 | 0.0012% |
| 2010 | #3,871 | 27 | 0.0014% |
| 2009 | #4,704 | 21 | 0.0011% |
| 2008 | #4,355 | 23 | 0.0011% |
| 2007 | #5,152 | 18 | 0.0009% |
| 2006 | #4,814 | 19 | 0.0009% |
| 2005 | #7,510 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2004 | #6,861 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 2003 | #5,797 | 13 | 0.0007% |
| 2002 | #4,289 | 19 | 0.0010% |
| 2001 | #5,930 | 12 | 0.0006% |
| 2000 | #6,206 | 11 | 0.0006% |
| 1999 | #11,150 | 5 | 0.0003% |
| 1998 | #9,321 | 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 Oz 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 are seeking freedom, opportunities to enjoy life: to make love, to go places and to do things. You are very adventurous and willing to take risk to achieve your objectives. New ways and new experiences can't satisfy your restless nature. One adventure leads you to another. You are honest and fair, because you know that this is the only way to receive justice and honesty from other people. But your personal growth is vital for you, and it is difficult to be tied down by rules and obligations. Your restless spirit might best controlled by choosing the field of work that meet your demand for action and adventure.
✦ Oz's Deeper Meaning & Tips for Parents Discover Oz's symbolic numbers and practical tips for choosing a name that complements your child's birth date.