Oswald (/ˈɒzwəld/) is a masculine given name, from Old English Osƿeald, from os "god" and ƿeald "rule".
The Old High German cognate was Answald, the Old Norse form was Ásvaldr.
The name fell out of use in the later medieval period, although it appears to have been rarely given in reference to the saint even in the late 14th century, as evidenced by the name of German poet and diplomat Oswald von Wolkenstein (1376/7–1445).
The name was revived in the 19th century, but it was never frequently given.
[1] By contrast, the Hispanic form Osvaldo became popular in the United States by the 1970s, peaking at rank 410 in 2004.