Brendan vs Oisin
Brendan 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 2024, Brendan was ranked #404 and Oisin #9 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Brendan was ranked #619 and Oisin #234 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Brendan was ranked #402 and Oisin #262 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Brendan was ranked #1402 and Oisin #630 among boys in England and Wales.
Brendan and Oisin over time
Brendan and Oisin appear together in 3 published lists, across 118 years of shared records. Brendan held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Oisin in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Brendan 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1998, Oisin moved ahead of Brendan in Northern Ireland · Boys — #73 and #81 the year before became #86 and #58.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Brendan and Oisin changed places 5 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2025, ending at #402 and #262.
- Longest-running competitions
Brendan and Oisin were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 61 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #402 and #262.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1997 they stood at #73 and #81 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 8 places apart; by 2024 they were #404 and #9.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys61 shared years, 1964–2025
Brendan held the stronger position in 34 of those years, Oisin in 27.
Highest recorded here: Brendan #16 in 1965, Oisin #8 in 2016.
The order changed in 2023: Oisin moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #205 and #306; by 2023 that had become #288 and #268.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Brendan #402, Oisin #262.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Brendan held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Oisin in 11.
Highest recorded here: Brendan #157 in 1998, Oisin #433 in 2021.
The order changed in 2014: Oisin moved ahead. In 2013 they stood at #596 and #692; by 2014 that had become #650 and #616.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Brendan #1402, Oisin #630.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Brendan held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Oisin in 27.
Highest recorded here: Brendan #73 in 1997, Oisin #7 in 2022.
The order changed in 1998: Oisin moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #73 and #81; by 1998 that had become #86 and #58.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Brendan #404, Oisin #9.
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.
Side by side
| Field | Brendan | Oisin |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Traditionally interpreted as 'little deer', combining an Old Irish word for deer or stag with a diminutive ending. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Irish |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /oʊˈʃiːn/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #402 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #262 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Oisin has a recorded origin (Irish); Brendan does not have one recorded yet.
- Brendan and Oisin both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Oisin; Brendan doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
Brendan
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #17 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
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #16 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1965 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #402 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Oisin
Popularity journey
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
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #7 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2022 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #262 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys