Oak, a symbol of solidity, strength, and longevity, is joining Cedar and Pine as a viable name, one that would work especially well in the middle.
 If you'd prefer to take the longer route to the name, you can consider the surnames Oakes or Oakley.

As sturdy as Oak, but with stronger roots as a first name, Oakley ticks lots of boxes for modern trends. With its unisex vibe, it's nature-based meaning, it's surname-y feel, and it's popular -lee ending, it's not wonder Oakley is on the rise. 
 
In the US, it's been in the Top 1000 consistently since 2011 and now sits comfortably in the US Top 400 for boys and in the Top 200 for girls. Meanwhile, across the globe, Oakley is Top 100 boy name in the UK and New Zealand. 
 
Though it may sound like a modern unisex invention, Oakley was actually used as a boys' name in the US at the end of the 19th and early 20th centuries. While it did become an obscure choice until it was revived in the 2000s, it was nevertheless consistently but quietly used in the intervening years
 
Right now, for boys, Oak variations Oakland, Oaklen, and Oaklee are also quite popular and S-ender Oaks or Oakes are gaining in popularity too. Combine this with all the girls called Oakley, Oaklynn, and Oaklee, and it begins to feel much more popular than its ranking might first suggest.

Oakley

The Shakespearean character Oberon in A Midsummer Night's Dream is King of the Fairies, but the name, with its strong 'O' beginning, projects a far more virile image than that. 
 Oberon was also seen as a fairy king in old German legend, in French heroic song, a Ben Jonson masque, and several operas. And an Oberon appeared in Disney's animated film "Gargoyles."
 The identically pronounced Auberon is occasionally heard in literary England.

Oberon

OBSIDIAN

OCEANADES

With the rise of ancient Roman names, Octavian suddenly seem plausible again.  A variation of Octavius and relative of the more modern Octavio, it's an equally attractive member of the trio.

Octavian

Octavius, which was at one time used for the eighth child in a family, has the worn leather patina of all the ancient Roman names now up for reconsideration. As a Roman family name, it derives from the uncommon forename Octavus, which designated an eighth son.
 The first Roman emperor, Augustus, was called Caius Octavius or Octavian before he took his title. He was the son of Octavius and Atia, the niece of Julius Caesar, who adopted him as his son. He appears under the name Octavius Caesar in Shakespeare's "Julius Caesar" and "Antony and Cleopatra."
 In later lit, Octavius Guy is a character in Wilkie Collins's novel The Moonstone and Octavius Robinson is in George Bernard Shaw's play "Man and Superman," while Octave is the name of the protaganist of a Stendhal novel. And Octavius is the name of an old Roman general in the movie "Night at the Museum."
 Attractive foreign versions include Ottavio and Octavio, as in the distinguished Mexican poet Octavio Paz. Octavio is also the name of several saints, including one who lived as a hermit in an elm tree.

Octavius

Oisin is one of the most popular <a href="https://nameberry.com/baby-names/168/irish-names">Irish baby names</a> in its native land, though largely unknown in the US. The original Oisin was the mythological son of Finn McCool and Sadb, the goddess who was changed into a deer. A legendary war hero and poet, Oisin had a name that is also reminiscent in sound of the ocean. Pronounced correctly, this name has an attractive sheen.
 Ossian is another version, reflected in the eighteenth century Ossianic poems of James Macpherson, which transformed him into a Scottish hero and also popularized the names Oscar, Fingal, Selma and Malvina.

Oisin

Distinctive yet familiar, Olin is both a Scandinavian name and an English surname. Currently a rare choice, yet reminiscent of popular options, like Oliver, Orion, and Colin. 
 
Following its Scandinavian roots, Olin is a variant of Olaf, via the feminine form, Oline, whereas an English name, it comes from Olander or Hollander, referring to someone who comes from "low-lying land", such as The Netherlands. 
 
Olin was once a Top 1000 name in the US, peaking in 1903 at #322, but went into decline during the 30s and by the 60s, it was out of the charts. As of 2024 however, the name might receive a new wake of attention after Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds revealed it as the name of their fourth baby, joining sisters James, Inez, and Betty.

Olin

Oliver is an international star, ranking near the top of the charts in the US and throughout the English-speaking world, along with a host of European and Latin American countries, from Norway to Chile, Slovenia to Switzerland.
 
Long a popular choice in England, Australia and New Zealand, Oliver entered the list of Top 100 <a href="https://nameberry.com/boys-names">baby boy names</a> in the U.S. for the first time in 2009, but has already jumped to the top of the charts. Why? Because Oliver is energetic and good-natured, stylish but classic, with a meaning symbolizing peace and fruitfulness. 
 
Oliver derives from Olivier, the Norman French variation of the Ancient Germanic name Alfihar ("elf army") or the Old Norse Áleifr ("ancestor's relic"), from which comes Olaf. Olivier emerged as the dominant spelling for its associations with the Latin word oliva, meaning "olive tree."

Oliver was used as a given name in medieval England after the spread of the French epic poem ‘La Chanson de Roland,’ which features a character named Olivier. It lost favor after the seventeenth century rule of Oliver Cromwell, then was revived in the nineteenth century. 

Oliver's biggest boost in this country came from the hit book and movie Love Story, which also catapulted the name Jennifer to stardom. Notable namesakes range from Oliver Wendell Holmes to Oliver Hardy to Oliver Stone. In fiction, there is Oliver Twist, and Oliver is also a Harry Potter name.
 Oliver works particularly well with single-syllable surnames, as in Oliver Stone, North and Puck (son of Wolfgang). Other celebrities who have chosen Oliver include Bridget Fonda, Fred Savage, Stephen Stills, and Taylor Hawkes. 
 International forms include the French Olivier, the Spanish Olivero, and the Italian Oliviero.
 Parents considering Oliver for their sons might consider that with Olivia at the top of the charts for girls, there will be an awful lot of children with names starting with Oliv-.

Oliver

Omega is an unusual name used now equally for boys and girls, though the a ending is conventionally feminine.  More popular boys' names, like Omega, end in the a sound these days: Joshua, Noah, Micah.

Omega

ORCADES

Orion is a rising star, with both mythical and celestial overtones.
 The Greek mythological Orion was the legendary hunter who pursued the seven daughters of Atlas, was slain by the goddess Artemis, and then placed as one of the brightest constellations in the night sky by Zeus.
 Mark Twain had a brother named Orion, and Chris "Big" Noth picked the name for his son. It is also a Harry Potter name.
 Orion's Gaelic connection to O'Ryan/Ryan makes it familiar as well as unusual.

Orion

Ormond

Orvis

Oscar is one of the most stylish Old Man Names of our era. While it's softened slightly in popularity over the past 20 years, that may be considered a very good thing.
 
In the nineties and the aughties, Oscar looked to be one of the grandpa names heading straight for the top of the charts, ala Elijah or Theodore. But instead of rising into the Top 100, Oscar has settled into that comfortable place between being too far in or out.
 
Oscar has Irish and Norse roots—Norse Oscar comes from the Old English Osgar, a variation of the Old Norse name Ásgeirr. The Irish form was derived from the Gaelic elements os, meaning "deer," and car, "loving." In Irish legend, Oscar was one of the mightiest warriors of his generation, the son of Ossian and the grandson of Finn Mac Cumhaill (MacCool).
 
Oscar also has remarkable international versatility. In addition to being a top name in Sweden, where it has royal connection, Oscar ranks high on popularity lists in all the English-speaking countries as well as in France, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, and other European and Latin American countries.
 
Actors Hugh Jackman and Gillian Anderson chose Oscar for their sons.Famous Oscars include Wilde (whose given name was Fingal), Isaac, Madison, Hammerstein, Peterson, de la Renta, the Academy Award, and the Grouch.

Oscar

Clad in armor. But while this name may have been forbiddingly antiquated not that long ago, the connection to the trendy nickname Os or Oz makes it a real possibility. 

Osric

Ossian, or Osian, from the Old Irish name Oisin, was the son of Finn in Irish legend that was transformed into a Scottish hero in the Ossianic poems of James Macpherson in the eighteenth century--which also popularlized Oscar, Fingal, Selma and Malvina.
 Downside: could be confused with Ocean.

Ossian

OSWAIN

Ancient name, near obsolete now, but could make a good alternative to Owen for the adventurous baby namer.
 

Doctor Who fans will recognize this as part of his companion's name, Clara Oswin Oswald.

Oswin

Otello

Ottavio

Owain is much more unusual than its brother name Owen, and feels a little more rugged, a little more adventurous and ancient.
 
Possibly an Old Welsh form of the Latin Eugenius, or, deriving from other Celtic roots to mean "born of goodness" or "born of sheep" - which might appeal to those who like Shepherd. 
 
Owain once belonged to a Knight of the Round Table and to two significant Welsh rulers, Owain Gwynedd, and Owain Glyndŵr, who resisted English rule. 
 
A more recent bearer is Owain Wyn Evans, a weatherman turned broadcaster and TV presenter. Known for his drag-themed weather forecast on International Drag Day 2017 and his hugely successful charity drumathon, Owain Wyn Evans may have brought the name to more parents' attention, as 2022 saw it return to the UK Top 1000.

Owain

Owen, a resonant Celtic name, has ranked among the Top 100 boys' names in the US for 20 years and is now at its highest point ever.
 
Why do so many parents love Owen? It's a classic with a genuine history, yet it's right in step with the modern trend for two-syllable, n-ending boys' names. Owen-like choices with less tradition behind them include Logan, Bowen, and Rowan.
 Owen is derived from two names—the Welsh Owain and the Celtic Eoghan. Each are connected to Eugene, which ultimately came from the Greek word eugenes, comprised of the elements eu, meaning good, and genes, "born." 
 
Owen became a Welsh patronymic surname during the Renaissance. The legendary St. Owen was a Benedictine monk who was a follower of St. Chad.
 
In Ireland, Owen may be spelled Eoin, as in Irish writer Eoin Colfer, and Eoghan. Other similar names include the Scottish Ewan or Euan and the French Ouen.
 
Owen's popularity now extends beyond English-speaking countries to France, Belgium, and the Netherlands.

Owen

Everyone says they want an unusual name &mdash; well, if you truly do, this is one with Biblical cred that fits the bill, with the added attraction of the user-friendly nickname of Oz or Ozzie. Ozias is the name of several minor figures in the Bible. Osias is another spelling.


Ozias

octobertales's list "O - Boys' Names" of 25 great name ideas: Oak - Ozias!