Oscar Wilde's full name was Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde.

Oscar Wilde was born on October 16, 1854, in Dublin, Ireland. His father, Sir William Wilde, was a prominent surgeon, and his mother, Jane Francesca Elgee, was a revolutionary poet who wrote under the pseudonym Speranza. They gave him a name that reflected their deep pride in Irish history and culture.The name Fingal refers to the legendary Gaelic hero and king of the 3rd century. O'Flahertie was a tribute to his father's family connections in County Galway. Wills was a family name passed down through his father's side, specifically honoring his great-grandfather. This long string of names was typical of the Anglo-Irish elite during the Victorian era.As Wilde rose to fame at Oxford University and later in London, he realized the importance of branding. He famously remarked that a name should be 'short and sweet' for the public. By the time he published 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' in 1890 and his famous plays in the 1890s, he had dropped the middle names entirely.Wilde understood that 'Oscar Wilde' was punchy, easy to remember, and looked better on theater posters. This strategic simplification helped him become one of the most recognizable celebrities of the late 19th century. Today, he is almost exclusively known by this shortened version rather than his five-part birth name.