Namewise

Barry vs Oisin

Barry and Oisincompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.

Head to head

Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2022, Barry was ranked #414 and Oisin #7 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2025, Barry was ranked #402 and Oisin #262 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2024, Barry was ranked #3254 and Oisin #630 among boys in England and Wales.

Barry and Oisin over time

Barry and Oisin appear together in 3 published lists, across 110 years of shared records. Oisin held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Barry in 0.

The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.

Barry reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Oisin in none. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.

Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.

How this pair is related

The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys61 shared years, 1964–2025

    Barry held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Oisin in 31.

    Highest recorded here: Barry #17 in 1985, Oisin #8 in 2016.

    The order changed in 1995: Oisin moved ahead. In 1994 they stood at #59 and #60; by 1995 that had become #69 and #56.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Barry #402, Oisin #262.

  • England and Wales · Boys28 shared years, 1996–2024

    Barry held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Oisin in 24.

    Highest recorded here: Barry #441 in 1996, Oisin #433 in 2021.

    The order changed in 2000: Oisin moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #809 and #906; by 2000 that had become #848 and #731.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Barry #3254, Oisin #630.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys21 shared years, 1997–2022

    Barry held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Oisin in 21.

    Highest recorded here: Barry #90 in 1997, Oisin #7 in 2022.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2022: Barry #414, Oisin #7.

Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.

Where to go next

Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.

Other comparisons involving Barry

Pairs where Barry shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Oisin

Pairs where Oisin shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — started together, ended far apart.

All started together, ended far apart→

Other pairs from Northern Ireland lists

Pairs measured inside Northern Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

Northern Ireland overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Barry, Oisin
FieldBarryOisin
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Editorially researched profile
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningNot yet recordedTraditionally interpreted as 'little deer', combining an Old Irish word for deer or stag with a diminutive ending.
OriginNot yet recordedIrish
Pronunciation/oʊˈʃiːn/
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZGB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Boys #402 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Boys #262 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recorded90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)94/10094/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Oisin has a recorded origin (Irish); Barry does not have one recorded yet.
  • Barry and Oisin both have 2 syllables.
  • A meaning is recorded for Oisin; Barry doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.

How each name got here

Barry

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1952

    First recorded at #30 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1964–2025

    Highest recorded position: #17 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1985 (recorded 1964–2025).

    Republic of Ireland · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #402 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.

    Republic of Ireland · Boys

Oisin

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1964

    First recorded at #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Republic of Ireland · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1997–2024

    Highest recorded position: #7 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2022 (recorded 1997–2024).

    Northern Ireland · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #262 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.

    Republic of Ireland · Boys