Odhran vs Reece
Odhran and Reececompared 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, Odhran was ranked #40 and Reece #404 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Odhran was ranked #130 and Reece #402 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Odhran was ranked #169 and Reece #246 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Odhran was ranked #1000 and Reece #592 among boys in England and Wales.
Odhran and Reece over time
Odhran and Reece appear together in 3 published lists, across 86 years of shared records. Odhran held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Reece in 1.
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.
Reece reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Odhran 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 2008, Odhran moved ahead of Reece in Northern Ireland · Boys — #44 and #41 the year before became #38 and #43.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Odhran and Reece changed places 7 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2024, ending at #40 and #404.
- Longest-running competitions
Odhran and Reece were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 35 years, from 1991 to 2025, ending at #130 and #402.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys35 shared years, 1991–2025
Odhran held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Reece in 13.
Highest recorded here: Odhran #58 in 2016, Reece #82 in 2001.
The order changed in 2008: Odhran moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #104 and #99; by 2008 that had become #89 and #114.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Odhran #130, Reece #402.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Odhran held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Reece in 8.
Highest recorded here: Odhran #35 in 2022, Reece #38 in 2006.
The order changed in 2008: Odhran moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #44 and #41; by 2008 that had become #38 and #43.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Odhran #40, Reece #404.
England and Wales · Boys23 shared years, 1996–2024
Odhran held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Reece in 23.
Highest recorded here: Odhran #1000 in 2024, Reece #41 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Odhran #1000, Reece #592.
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 | Odhran | Reece |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | From Old Irish Odrán, combining 'odar' (dun-coloured, greyish-brown, tan) with a diminutive suffix — 'little dun/ashen one'. Borne by St Patrick's charioteer Odrán and by St Odhrán (Oran) of Iona, companion of St Columba. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Irish (medieval) | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈəu̯.ɾˠaːnˠ/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Odhrán, Odran, Oran, Orin, Orrin | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #130 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #402 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Odhran has a recorded origin (Irish (medieval)); Reece does not have one recorded yet.
- Odhran and Reece both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Odhran; Reece doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
- The available evidence gives Odhran a "high" Data Confidence level and Reece a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Odhran
Popularity journey
First recorded1971
First recorded at #257 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1971 — 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: #35 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2022 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #130 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Reece
Popularity journey
First recorded1989
First recorded at #95 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1989 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #38 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2006 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #402 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys