Pronunciation
Uh-sheen / Aw-sheen / Ush-een
These spellings are a guide to the sound. Irish pronunciation can vary by dialect.
Meaning
Little deer
Alternate spellings
Oisin
Fun fact
Oisín’s mother, Sadhbh, is turned into a deer and raises him in the forest. He later journeys with Niamh to Tír na nÓg, the Land of Youth, where hundreds of years pass without him ageing.
Popularity in Ireland
Figures for the spelling Oisín, Republic of Ireland.
The CSO only publishes names given to three or more babies in a year. “Less than 3” means zero, one or two babies, and these years appear as gaps on the graph.
Number of babies registered each year
From 2018, spellings with and without fadas are counted separately. Earlier figures group these spellings together, so the graph has a break at 2018.
View yearly figures
| Year | Babies named | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 331 | #5 |
| 2024 | 286 | #9 |
| 2023 | 330 | #5 |
| 2022 | 340 | #6 |
| 2021 | 302 | #12 |
| 2020 | 277 | #16 |
| 2019 | 310 | #13 |
| 2018 | 303 | #15 |
| 2017 | 351 | #11 |
| 2016 | 398 | #8 |
| 2015 | 365 | #12 |
| 2014 | 381 | #13 |
| 2013 | 392 | #14 |
| 2012 | 407 | #14 |
| 2011 | 436 | #15 |
| 2010 | 401 | #17 |
| 2009 | 423 | #17 |
| 2008 | 454 | #16 |
| 2007 | 407 | #18 |
| 2006 | 413 | #16 |
| 2005 | 370 | #21 |
| 2004 | 384 | #18 |
| 2003 | 342 | #20 |
| 2002 | 300 | #25 |
| 2001 | 283 | #23 |
| 2000 | 287 | #22 |
| 1999 | 249 | #25 |
| 1998 | 174 | #37 |
| 1997 | 171 | #49 |
| 1996 | 132 | #57 |
| 1995 | 137 | #56 |
| 1994 | 120 | #60 |
| 1993 | 92 | #73 |
| 1992 | 84 | #77 |
| 1991 | 75 | #84 |
| 1990 | 69 | #89 |
| 1989 | 43 | #108 |
| 1988 | 47 | #103 |
| 1987 | 47 | #106 |
| 1986 | 40 | #110 |
| 1985 | 32 | #127 |
| 1984 | 28 | #130 |
| 1983 | 43 | #119 |
| 1982 | 43 | #116 |
| 1981 | 32 | #128 |
| 1980 | 26 | #140 |
| 1979 | 24 | #142 |
| 1978 | 20 | #157 |
| 1977 | 19 | #159 |
| 1976 | 20 | #154 |
| 1975 | 13 | #192 |
| 1974 | 17 | #167 |
| 1973 | 20 | #157 |
| 1972 | 14 | #180 |
| 1971 | 16 | #164 |
| 1970 | 15 | #163 |
| 1969 | 9 | #196 |
| 1968 | 8 | #187 |
| 1967 | Less than 3 | - |
| 1966 | 4 | #229 |
| 1965 | 5 | #207 |
| 1964 | 3 | #232 |
Source: CSO, Irish Babies’ Names, tables VSA50 and VSA60. Latest year: 2025.