Pronunciation
Oh-rawn
Meaning
Little pale or dun-coloured one
Alternate spellings
Odhran; Oran
Fun fact
You'll also see Odhran without the fada, often said Or-un, while the fada gives the ending a longer awn sound. It's an old name with a connection to early Irish saints. So the spelling and pronunciation are both worth checking.
Popularity in Ireland
Figures for the spelling Odhrán, Republic of Ireland.
The CSO only publishes names given to three or more babies in a year. “Less than 3” means zero, one or two babies, and these years appear as gaps on the graph.
Number of babies registered each year
From 2018, spellings with and without fadas are counted separately. Earlier figures group these spellings together, so the graph has a break at 2018.
View yearly figures
| Year | Babies named | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 63 | #93 |
| 2024 | 73 | #81 |
| 2023 | 72 | #83 |
| 2022 | 71 | #88 |
| 2021 | 58 | #109 |
| 2020 | 77 | #81 |
| 2019 | 68 | #97 |
| 2018 | 44 | #138 |
| 2017 | 111 | #64 |
| 2016 | 128 | #58 |
| 2015 | 113 | #69 |
| 2014 | 124 | #66 |
| 2013 | 111 | #72 |
| 2012 | 98 | #82 |
| 2011 | 89 | #88 |
| 2010 | 100 | #75 |
| 2009 | 98 | #82 |
| 2008 | 88 | #89 |
| 2007 | 69 | #104 |
| 2006 | 58 | #109 |
| 2005 | 55 | #104 |
| 2004 | 59 | #100 |
| 2003 | 28 | #147 |
| 2002 | 24 | #159 |
| 2001 | 37 | #120 |
| 2000 | 27 | #139 |
| 1999 | 15 | #180 |
| 1998 | 15 | #168 |
| 1997 | 17 | #174 |
| 1996 | 18 | #169 |
| 1995 | 13 | #191 |
| 1994 | 11 | #192 |
| 1993 | 4 | #302 |
| 1992 | 8 | #222 |
| 1991 | 6 | #242 |
| 1990 | 3 | #323 |
| 1989 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1988 | 4 | #271 |
| 1987 | 4 | #272 |
| 1986 | 3 | #317 |
| 1985 | 5 | #250 |
| 1984 | 4 | #274 |
| 1983 | 4 | #282 |
| 1982 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1981 | 5 | #260 |
| 1980 | 7 | #241 |
| 1979 | 6 | #257 |
| 1978 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1977 | 3 | #333 |
| 1976 | 5 | #258 |
| 1975 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1974 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1973 | 5 | #268 |
| 1972 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1971 | 5 | #257 |
| 1970 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1969 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1968 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1967 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1966 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1965 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1964 | Less than 3 | - |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies’ Names, tables VSA50 and VSA60. Latest year: 2025.