Narrative: This name may have originated as a nickname for Oscar and Oswald, and the popularity of African-American actor Ossie Davis (b. 1917) has probably contributed to the name's use for both boys and girls.

However, its popularity in Australia suggests that some see it as a respelling of ''Aussie.''

Popularity: The name Ossie ranked 2246th in popularity for females of all ages in a sample of the 1990 US Census.

Though this name appears on the 1990 U.S. Census lists, it is used by only a small percentage of the general population.

Narrative: This name may have originated as a nickname for feminine forms of Oscar and Oswald, and the popularity of male African-American actor Ossie Davis (b. 1917) has probably contributed to its use for both boys and girls.

However, its popularity in Australia suggests that some see it as a respelling of ''Aussie.''