Caleb vs Oisin
Caleb 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, Caleb was ranked #26 and Oisin #9 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Caleb was ranked #42 and Oisin #234 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Caleb was ranked #75 and Oisin #630 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Caleb was ranked #108 and Oisin #262 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Caleb and Oisin over time
Caleb and Oisin appear together in 3 published lists, across 91 years of shared records. Oisin held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Caleb in 1.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Oisin reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Caleb 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 2018, Caleb moved ahead of Oisin in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #142 and #11 the year before became #111 and #247.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 28 shared years in Northern Ireland · Boys, Caleb and Oisin averaged 40.4 places apart, ending at #26 and #9.
- Longest-running competitions
Caleb and Oisin were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 34 years, from 1983 to 2025, ending at #108 and #262.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Caleb #72 in 2023, Oisin #433 in 2021.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys34 shared years, 1983–2025
Caleb held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Oisin in 26.
Highest recorded here: Caleb #91 in 2024, Oisin #8 in 2016.
The order changed in 2018: Caleb moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #142 and #11; by 2018 that had become #111 and #247.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Caleb #108, Oisin #262.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Caleb held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Oisin in 0.
Highest recorded here: Caleb #72 in 2023, Oisin #433 in 2021.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Caleb #75, Oisin #630.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Caleb held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Oisin in 28.
Highest recorded here: Caleb #20 in 2023, Oisin #7 in 2022.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Caleb #26, 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 | Caleb | 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 #108 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #262 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Oisin has a recorded origin (Irish); Caleb does not have one recorded yet.
- Caleb and Oisin both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Oisin; Caleb doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
Caleb
Popularity journey
First recorded1982
First recorded at #98 among boys in New Zealand in 1982 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1982–2023
Highest recorded position: #12 among boys in New Zealand, in 1999 (recorded 1982–2023).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #108 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