UK boy's name
Oran
An old Irish masculine name meaning "little green one" or "from the green place".
For 2026, the newest official UK baby-name figures on this page are from 2024. That release is the current official benchmark rather than a forecast.
Oran is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Oran popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #1132, with 25 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2023, with 32 births.
This profile covers 547 England and Wales registrations across 29 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales, NRS Scotland and NISRA Northern Ireland, 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 78% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.
We estimate that about 1,714 living people in the UK are called Oran. 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 2025 or 2026.
Key insights
- • Oran ranked #1132 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 25 registrations.
- • The name peaked in 2023, when 32 boys were registered as Oran.
- • Oran ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #121 in 2024.
- • About 1,714 living people in the UK are estimated to have Oran as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.
Latest rank (E&W)
#1132
2024
Births in 2024
25
Latest year
Peak year
2023
32 births
Estimated living
1,714
2026
Meaning
What does Oran mean?
The given name Oran has its roots in the Gaelic language, which originated in Ireland and parts of Scotland. The name can be traced back to the ancient Celtic cultures that inhabited these regions. It is believed to be derived from the Irish Gaelic word "oran," which means "song" or "chant."
In early Irish mythology and folklore, Oran was sometimes mentioned as a bard or poet, highlighting the musical and lyrical connotations of the name. While the name does not appear prominently in ancient texts or religious scriptures, it has been used among Celtic communities for centuries.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the name Oran was an Irish monk who lived in the 6th century. He was known as Saint Oran and was believed to have been a disciple of St. Columba, the renowned Irish missionary who spread Christianity in Scotland.
During the Middle Ages, the name Oran gained popularity among Irish and Scottish families, particularly those with ties to bardic traditions or musical lineages. Notable historical figures who bore the name include Oran Mor (c. 1300s), a renowned Scottish bard and composer whose works were celebrated in the Scottish Highlands.
In the 17th century, Oran O'Rourke (c. 1625-1707) was an Irish harpist and composer who played a significant role in preserving traditional Irish music. His compositions and teachings helped keep the rich heritage of Irish harp music alive during a time of cultural suppression.
Another notable bearer of the name was Oran Mór Kelly (c. 1675-1735), an Irish poet and songwriter from County Galway. His works were widely popular and celebrated the Irish language, culture, and way of life.
In more recent times, Oran Roberts (1908-1991) was a Welsh actor and singer who gained fame for his roles in numerous British films and television shows throughout the mid-20th century.
These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the name Oran throughout history, each contributing to the cultural richness and legacy associated with this name of Celtic origins.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
Popularity
Oran over time
The chart below shows babies named Oran registered in England and Wales in the years where the name appears in the published records, from 1996 to 2024. Empty years are left out so rare names are not stretched across long periods where the published files do not show any registrations.
For Oran, the clearest high point is 2023. The latest England and Wales figure is 25 births in 2024, compared with 32 at the peak.
Babies born per year
Decades
Oran by decade
Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Oran 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 | #1167 | 123 | 5 |
| 2010s | #1363 | 191 | 10 |
| 2000s | #1087 | 187 | 10 |
| 1990s | #1295 | 46 | 4 |
Geography
Where Oran is most common
The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Oran. They are useful for spotting where the name is showing up in real numbers, while the rank beside each bar shows how strongly it performs inside that region.
Oran ranks best in Scotland in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #121 in 2024.
Across the UK
Oran in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Scotland (NRS)
#121 in 2024
26 years of NRS records, 358 total registered
Northern Ireland (NISRA)
#164 in 2024
28 years of NISRA records, 822 total registered
Related
Names similar to Oran
- Oliver 157,197
- Oscar 67,495
- Owen 33,517
- Ollie 13,193
- Oakley 9,838
- Omar 6,823
- Otis 6,395
- Oskar 4,827
- Olly 4,403
- Otto 3,839
- Osian 3,145
- Owain 2,310
FAQ
Oran: questions and answers
How popular is the name Oran in the UK right now?
In 2024, Oran was ranked #1132 for boys in England and Wales, with 25 births registered.
When was Oran most popular?
The peak year on record was 2023, with 32 babies registered as Oran in England and Wales.
What is the meaning and origin of Oran?
An old Irish masculine name meaning "little green one" or "from the green place".
How many people are called Oran in the UK?
A total of 547 babies have been registered as Oran across the 29 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 358 more in Scotland and 822 in Northern Ireland.
Where is Oran most common?
In the latest published local rankings, Oran ranks best in Scotland, where it placed #121 in 2024. The regional bars on this page use birth counts, so they also reflect the size of each region.
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.