Oisin vs Tom
Oisin and Tomcompared 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, Oisin was ranked #9 and Tom #60 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Oisin was ranked #262 and Tom #48 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Oisin was ranked #234 and Tom #352 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Oisin was ranked #630 and Tom #757 among boys in England and Wales.
Oisin and Tom over time
Oisin and Tom appear together in 3 published lists, across 102 years of shared records. Oisin held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Tom 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.
Tom reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Oisin in 1. 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 took the other's place near the top
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Tom moved into the top 50 at #32 in 2018 as Oisin fell out of it to #247, having been #11 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2018, Tom moved ahead of Oisin in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #11 and #50 the year before became #247 and #32.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 28 shared years in Northern Ireland · Boys, Oisin and Tom averaged 58.3 places apart, ending at #9 and #60.
- Mirrored each other
Over 45 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Tom rose about as far as Oisin fell — from #140 and #321 in 1980 to #262 and #48 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Oisin and Tom were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 45 years, from 1980 to 2025, ending at #262 and #48.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Oisin #8 in 2016, Tom #32 in 2018.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys45 shared years, 1980–2025
Oisin held the stronger position in 37 of those years, Tom in 8.
Highest recorded here: Oisin #8 in 2016, Tom #32 in 2018.
The order changed in 2018: Tom moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #11 and #50; by 2018 that had become #247 and #32.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Oisin #262, Tom #48.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Oisin held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Tom in 26.
Highest recorded here: Oisin #433 in 2021, Tom #83 in 2000.
The order changed in 2024: Oisin moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #651 and #645; by 2024 that had become #630 and #757.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Oisin #630, Tom #757.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Oisin held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Tom in 0.
Highest recorded here: Oisin #7 in 2022, Tom #42 in 2016.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Oisin #9, Tom #60.
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 | Oisin | Tom |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Traditionally interpreted as 'little deer', combining an Old Irish word for deer or stag with a diminutive ending. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Irish | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /oʊˈʃiːn/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #262 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #48 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Oisin has a recorded origin (Irish); Tom does not have one recorded yet.
- Oisin has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Tom.
- A meaning is recorded for Oisin; Tom doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
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
Tom
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #50 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #12 among boys in Norway, in 1960 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #388 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys