Meaning & Origin
A male given name from Old English. Oswald of Northumbria, 7th century Northumbrian King and Saint. Oswald of Worcester, 10th century Archbishop of York and English Saint.
Oswald is a boy's baby name of Old English origin, composed of os ('god') and weald ('ruler'), meaning 'divine ruler.' It was borne by two early English saints: Oswald of Northumbria, the 7th-century king who brought Christianity to northern England, and Oswald of Worcester, a 10th-century Archbishop of York.
Though it faded from fashion through much of the 20th century, Oswald has an undeniable vintage gravitas — and with old-fashioned names surging back, it may be poised for a quiet revival.