Why the Academy Awards are called the Oscars: The story behind Hollywood’s famous nickname

The annual Academy Awards are among the most prestigious honors in the global film industry. Officially known as the Academy Award of Merit, the awards are presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence in filmmaking. However, the ceremony and its iconic gold statuette are widely known by a shorter and more famous nickname: the “Oscars.”

When the first Academy Awards ceremony was held in 1929, the trophy was simply called the Academy Award of Merit. The statuette depicts a knight holding a sword and standing on a reel of film that originally symbolized the five branches of the Academy, actors, directors, producers, technicians, and writers.

Over time, however, the nickname “Oscar” became more popular than the official title and is now the term most commonly used worldwide.


The nickname eventually became so widely recognized that the Academy formally adopted it in 1939. Today, the term “Oscar” is even trademarked by the organization, reflecting its status as a globally recognizable symbol of cinematic achievement.

Margaret Herrick’s ‘Uncle Oscar’ story

One of the most frequently cited explanations involves Margaret Herrick, a librarian who later became executive director of the Academy. According to the story, when she first saw the statuette in the early 1930s, she remarked that it resembled her “Uncle Oscar.”

A newspaper columnist reportedly overheard the comment and mentioned it in print, helping popularize the nickname.

Although historians cannot fully confirm the anecdote, Herrick’s story is often credited as the most widely accepted explanation for the name.

Competing claims about the name

Other figures have also been linked to the nickname’s origin. Actress Bette Davis later claimed that she called the statue “Oscar” because its backside reminded her of her first husband, Harmon Oscar Nelson.

However, records show the nickname was already in circulation before she made the claim.

Another theory involves Hollywood columnist Sidney Skolsky, who used the name “Oscar” in a newspaper column about the 1934 Academy Awards. His widely read column helped popularize the nickname among the public and the entertainment industry.

The Oscars

Today, the Oscars remain the film industry’s most prestigious honors. The 98th Academy Awards is scheduled for March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, hosted by Conan O'Brien. The ceremony will recognize films released in 2025 and feature awards in 24 competitive categories, including a new category for achievement in casting.