Joyce Carol Oates, an American author, novelist, poet, and playwright.

Titus Oates was a 17th-century perjurer who fabricated a fraudulent Catholic plot to kill King Charles II of England.

Adam Oates was a professional ice hockey player.

Warren Oates was an American character actor.

Johnny Lane Oates, a former catcher and manager in Major League Baseball.

Lawrence Oates, a British Antarctic explorer.

Frank Oates, a British African explorer.

William Wilfred Oates of Burns & Oates, a British publishing house.

Eugene William Oates (1845 – 1911), an English naturalist.

Daniel J. Oates, Chief of Police and Safety Services Administrator for the City of Ann Arbor, Michigan.

T. Oates, was a rugby league player.

John Oates, musician and producer, of Hall & Oates.

Stephen Oates, a defender with Scottish 3rd Division football side East Stirlingshire

Oates Coast, coastal area of Antarctica.

Oates Building, historic building in Florida.