NameCensus.

UK boy's name

Osian

A Welsh name derived from the word "osian" meaning "handsome or accomplished youth".

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.

Osian is a boy's name in the UK records. People looking for Osian popularity in 2026 should use the latest official release, which is 2024 in this profile. In that release it ranked #313, with 143 babies registered with the name. Its strongest year in the published records was 2022, with 178 births.

This profile covers 3,145 England and Wales registrations across 28 recorded years from 1996 to 2024. The figures come from ONS England and Wales and NRS Scotland, 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 80% of the recorded peak, which gives a quick read on how the name has moved since its high point.

We estimate that about 3,133 living people in the UK are called Osian. 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

  • Osian ranked #313 for boys in England and Wales in 2024, with 143 registrations.
  • The name peaked in 2022, when 178 boys were registered as Osian.
  • Osian ranks best in Wales in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #9 in 2023.
  • About 3,133 living people in the UK are estimated to have Osian as a first name, after adjusting past birth registrations with ONS life tables.

Latest rank (E&W)

#313

2024

Births in 2024

143

Latest year

Peak year

2022

178 births

Estimated living

3,133

2026

Meaning

What does Osian mean?

The name Osian is believed to have originated from the Welsh language, with its roots tracing back to the early medieval period. It is derived from the Welsh word "osian," which means "to kindle" or "to ignite." This suggests that the name may have been associated with fire or igniting passions.

In Welsh mythology, Osian was the name of a legendary warrior and bard who was the son of the famous poet Taliesin. He was renowned for his bravery and skill in battle, as well as his poetic talents. The name appears in various ancient Welsh literary works, such as the Mabinogion, a collection of medieval Welsh tales.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Osian can be found in the Welsh Triads, a collection of traditional narratives that date back to the 9th or 10th century. The Triads mention Osian ap Rhodri, a prince of Gwynedd who lived in the late 6th century.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the name Osian. One of the most famous was Osian Gwyddoniaid (fl. 1470-1510), a Welsh poet and grammarian who contributed significantly to the development of the Welsh literary tradition. Another notable figure was Osian Powell (1853-1927), a Welsh clergyman and author who wrote extensively on the history and culture of Wales.

In the realm of art, Osian Ward (1786-1849) was a prominent Welsh landscape painter known for his depictions of the Welsh countryside. Osian Ellis (1928-1986) was a renowned Welsh poet and playwright who was instrumental in reviving the Welsh language and culture in the 20th century.

Lastly, Osian Roberts (1958-2021) was a Welsh professional footballer who played as a defender for various clubs, including Swansea City and Wrexham. He later became a successful football manager, leading several teams in Wales and England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

Popularity

Osian over time

The chart below shows babies named Osian 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 Osian, the clearest high point is 2022. The latest England and Wales figure is 143 births in 2024, compared with 178 at the peak.

Babies born per year

Osian
04589134178199620102024

Decades

Osian by decade

Decade totals smooth out the yearly jumps and make it easier to see whether Osian 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 #291 799 5
2010s #322 1,422 10
2000s #385 803 10
1990s #495 121 3

Geography

Where Osian is most common

The bars show the latest published local birth counts for Osian. 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.

Osian ranks best in Wales in the latest published regional snapshot for that area, where it placed #9 in 2023.

Wales
129
Scotland
3

Across the UK

Osian in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland (NRS)

#727 in 2024

2 years of NRS records, 8 total registered

Notable bearers

Famous people named Osian

  • Osian Roberts

    association football coach; association football player

    Welsh footballer

    1965-

  • Osian Ellis

    composer; harpist; music educator

    Welsh harpist and composer (1928-2021)

    1928-2021

  • Osian Gwyn

    singer

    Welsh musician

  • Osian Howells

    singer

    Welsh musician

  • Osian Huw Williams

    singer; guitarist

    Welsh singer-song writer and guitarist

  • Osian Jones

    musician

    Welsh musician

  • Osian Williams

    director

    Welsh director

Related

Names similar to Osian

FAQ

Osian: questions and answers

How popular is the name Osian in the UK right now?

In 2024, Osian was ranked #313 for boys in England and Wales, with 143 births registered.

When was Osian most popular?

The peak year on record was 2022, with 178 babies registered as Osian in England and Wales.

What is the meaning and origin of Osian?

A Welsh name derived from the word "osian" meaning "handsome or accomplished youth".

How many people are called Osian in the UK?

A total of 3,145 babies have been registered as Osian across the 28 years of ONS England & Wales records shown here, plus 8 more in Scotland.

Where is Osian most common?

In the latest published local rankings, Osian ranks best in Wales, where it placed #9 in 2023. 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.