Meaning & Story
Oswald is an Old English male given name composed of os meaning god and weald meaning power or rule, giving the meaning divine power or rule of God. Several saints bore the name, including Oswald of Northumbria, a 7th-century king and saint, and Oswald of Worcester, a 10th-century Archbishop. The name has a vintage quality in modern usage that makes it feel both ancient and gently absurd as a pet name, which is part of its charm.
Oswald is a name of magnificent, unironic pomposity that works perfectly for a male companion who has clearly decided he is operating at a different level from everyone around him. The divine power etymology would justify this self-assessment if your companion were inclined to consult it, which he is not. Whether your pet is a cat who rules the household with ecclesiastical authority or a dog who has assigned himself the role of domestic adjudicator, Oswald is the correct formal recognition of his position. Historic, dignified, and delightfully absurd.