UK boy's name
Bohan
A masculine name of Irish origin representing strength or vigorous.
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2023. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Bohan is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Bohan popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2023 in this profile. In that release it ranked #4991, with 3 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2015, with 5 births.
This profile covers 23 England and Wales registrations across 6 recorded years from 2010 to 2023. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, so the page is a view of published baby-name registrations rather than a forecast or a live count of people using the name today.
The latest count is about 60% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 23 living people in the UK are called Bohan. This uses published birth registrations from England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, then applies ONS national life tables to estimate how many are likely still alive. It does not forecast extra births for 2024 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Bohan ranked #4991 for boys in England and Wales in 2023, with 3 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2015, when 5 boys were registered as Bohan.
- • About 23 living people in the UK are estimated to have Bohan as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#4991
2023
Births in 2023
3
Latest year
Peak year
2015
5 births
Estimated living
23
2026
Meaning
What does Bohan mean?
The given name Bohan is of Irish origin, with its roots traced back to the Gaelic language. It is believed to have emerged in the medieval era, around the 5th to 10th centuries AD, when the Gaelic culture flourished across Ireland and parts of Scotland.
Bohan is derived from the Gaelic word "bó", which means "cow" or "cattle", and the suffix "-án", which denotes a diminutive form or endearment. Therefore, the name Bohan can be interpreted as "little cow" or "little cowherd", suggesting a connection to the pastoral traditions of the ancient Irish societies.
While the name does not appear to have been directly referenced in ancient texts or religious scriptures, it is believed to have been in use among the Gaelic-speaking communities of Ireland during the medieval period. The earliest recorded instances of the name Bohan can be found in Irish genealogical records and annals from the 12th century onwards.
Notable historical figures who bore the name Bohan include:
1. Bohan O'Reilly (c. 1580 - c. 1650), an Irish chieftain and leader of the O'Reilly clan in County Cavan, Ireland, during the 17th century.
2. Bohan Mac Donagh (c. 1610 - c. 1680), an Irish poet and bard from County Sligo, known for his compositions in the Irish language.
3. Bohan O'Malley (c. 1720 - c. 1795), an Irish merchant and trader who established a successful business in the port city of Galway in the 18th century.
4. Bohan McGuire (c. 1810 - c. 1885), an Irish immigrant to the United States who served as a Union soldier during the American Civil War and received the Medal of Honor for his bravery in battle.
5. Bohan O'Donnell (c. 1875 - c. 1940), an Irish revolutionary and member of the Irish Republican Brotherhood, who participated in the Easter Rising of 1916 and the subsequent Irish War of Independence.
While the name Bohan may not be as common today as it once was in Ireland, it remains a part of the rich cultural heritage and linguistic tradition of the Gaelic-speaking peoples, serving as a reminder of the pastoral roots and historical significance of this ancient name.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Bohan over time
The chart below shows babies named Bohan registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 2010 to 2023. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Bohan, the clearest high point is 2015. The latest England and Wales figure is 3 births in 2023, compared with 5 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Bohan by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Bohan was a short-lived spike or a name that stayed in regular use. Average rank is calculated only from years where a published rank exists.
| Decade | Average rank | Total births | Years covered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020s | #4991 | 3 | 1 |
| 2010s | #4053 | 20 | 5 |
Related
Names similar to Bohan
- Benjamin 90,412
- Ben 36,356
- Bradley 30,230
- Brandon 26,411
- Billy 18,608
- Bobby 16,904
- Blake 16,337
- Bailey 16,014
- Brody 7,230
- Beau 6,722
- Barnaby 5,284
- Brodie 4,801
FAQ
Bohan: questions and answers
How popular is the name Bohan in the UK right now?
In 2023, Bohan was ranked #4991 for boys in England and Wales, with 3 births registered.
When was Bohan most popular?
The peak year on record was 2015, with 5 babies registered as Bohan in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Bohan?
A masculine name of Irish origin representing strength or vigorous.
How many people are called Bohan in the UK?
A total of 23 babies have been registered as Bohan across the 6 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here.
Which records is this page based on?
The England and Wales timeline uses ONS baby-name records. Scotland figures come from NRS and Northern Ireland figures come from NISRA. Counts are registrations in published baby-name files. The living estimate uses those birth registrations with ONS national life tables.