Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

Óran

46 replies

Tollygunge · 10/06/2016 22:26

For a boy. What do you think?

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
talkingtoclarry · 16/06/2016 22:14

I have a nephew called Órán. Pronounced Oar-un. I like it!

florascotianew · 15/06/2016 10:45

Just wanted to make it clear that in previous post I was not intending any criticism. Words and names change over time, and 'song' is a lovely meaning. I was just being factual about the original meaning of the name.

Meeep · 15/06/2016 10:27

I like it.

florascotianew · 15/06/2016 10:23

Oran does mean song in Scottish Gaelic, but the name Oran/Odhran has a different origin. As previous poster says, it originates from a word meaning 'pale' or 'pale green/pale yellow' .

Today, when naming babies, people have blended the meanings of two words that sound the same. I suppose its a bit like the female names Lynette and Linnet; they sound much the same but have completely different origins.

Vriksasana · 14/06/2016 22:22

I vote no Fada

Original poster
Tollygunge · 14/06/2016 21:27

See I also love Oisin but my accent makes it sound like Ocean, which I don't love

OP posts:
Original poster
Tollygunge · 14/06/2016 21:27

Fave pronunciation I mean

OP posts:
Original poster
Tollygunge · 14/06/2016 21:26

I've never met one but obvs I'm in England. I'm saying it over and over and like foreign without the f def my face pronunciation. Or-ran maybe sounds a bit American. So consensus is no fada right?!

OP posts:
LastGirlOnTheLeft · 14/06/2016 21:20

I'm in NI and Oran (sorry, can't do fadas on phone I think) is so popular!! I love it. It sounds mystical, which is a lovely and common theme for Irish names.

QforCucumber · 14/06/2016 21:19

Im in the NE and know one - he's 12 now. Lovely name.

Vriksasana · 14/06/2016 21:19

I am in Ireland. All the ones I know, it is like Foreign without the F. The way we say it. Not the way the americans say it.

I have not seen it with the fadagh on the O. That is a step too gaelscoil for me. :-p

Vriksasana · 14/06/2016 21:17

I know at least four. Is it unusual? One is well in to his 40s

Original poster
Tollygunge · 14/06/2016 21:05

I am totally falling in love with it now. I thought it was Gaelic for 'pale' not dong though. But song is a nicer meaning. I am def correct in saying the fada makes it oh-ran right? I like pronunciation or-ran more- but is that even a name? And then you wouldn't have fada?? DM says it depends where you come from hoe you pronounce the fada but she's been over here for donkeys years so might not be most reliable!

OP posts:
Maverick66 · 14/06/2016 18:41

Odhrán very popular in Ireland it is an Irish name.

wigglesrock · 14/06/2016 18:35

Quite popular in my kids primary school - in Belfast. Mainly spelt Odhran. I'd know more Odhrans than Ben/Jack/Oliver and the like.

lamusic · 14/06/2016 18:30

I'm Scottish and pronounce it o( phonically, same way as orange) ran! It is Gaelic for song ( don't know if you know that OP)

carmelsundae · 14/06/2016 18:26

My first thought was the pub on byres road!! But have heard of people using it as a boys name!!

jacksoncannery · 14/06/2016 17:55

If you know anyone in Glasgow/Scotland their first thought is going to be... "Oh like the pub on Byers Road" (Òran Mor).

passportmess · 14/06/2016 17:47

26 years ago I babysat in Dublin for a delightful little boy called Oran. He used to say 'Me's a man' - a lovely wee boy.

Sgoinneal · 14/06/2016 17:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Sgoinneal · 14/06/2016 17:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
Tollygunge · 11/06/2016 17:32

Hi, just checking back in- thanks for the comments. The fada means it's pronounced oh-ran, though I've seen it without pronounced or-ran, which I might prefer! Mum is Irish but we don't live there. I love oisin, and Torin is also in our list. Odin was as well till I started thinking odious. Boys names are so hard. I'm liking this at the moment.

OP posts:
DramaAlpaca · 11/06/2016 17:25

I like it.

It's a fairly uncommon Irish boys' name that's easy to spell & pronounce. I'm surprised it's not used more, actually.

MrsSpecter · 11/06/2016 15:24

I have an Ódhran so i am biased. Pr. Awwrin or ohrin

florascotianew · 11/06/2016 15:20

St Oran/Odhran is a (male) saint in Scotland, too. He was one of St Columba's followers, born in Ireland. It was said that he was buried alive in the foundations of St Columba's chapel on Iona - if true, an interesting example of a pre-Christian custom continued by Christian misionaries.

There were 15 baby boys named Oran in Scotland in 2015, and 4 named Odhran, and 3 girls named Oran [[http://www.nrscotland.gov.uk/statistics-and-data/statistics/statistics-by-theme/vital-events/names/babies-first-names/full-lists-of-babies-first-names-2010-to-2014]