Oshan?

[WhiskyCollins]

I’m having a moment where I really love the name Oshan for a boy but I have no sense of how popular it is, or is about to be.

I’m a bit worried (although not a deal breaker) of picking a name that’s unusual at the time but goes on to have a massive surge in popularity (eg Arlo which I’d never even heard of until a couple of years ago and now there’s a load of them it seems).

I’m not precious about having a ‘unique’ name or anything but I don’t really want a name that feels too trendy. I’m wondering if I might be better off picking a more classic, slow and steady name that’s already middlingly popular and won’t surge or date…ideas for this welcome!

So my question to those with their ear to the ground- do you predict a plague of Oshans any time soon? Or is this just one of those things that’s impossible to predict?

(nothing wrong with the name Arlo btw I do think it’s lovely, just the first example that came to mind of the phenomenon I’m talking about).

do you live in Wales? I understand it’s a very popular Welsh name but not heard often in England (with a different spelling traditionally). I am not Welsh but have a Welsh friend with an Osian. It’s lovely and suits him well!

It is v popular here in Wales. It is spelt Osian, not Oshan . Welsh does not have an SH .

I know 2 little babies just born with this name. It's alright but not my fave

I’m in London but partner and I both have welsh connections/family despite being England-born ourselves. I’ve seen it spelt both ways and picked the one that I think is less likely to cause confusion - I do think the Osian spelling is prettier though…

I didn’t know about the Welsh. Are you Welsh or have welsh connections? If not it reads like a deliberate mis-spelling of the word Ocean. That’s not good - for me, mis-spellings are always chavvy.

I prefer the Welsh spelling tbh but was concerned about people knowing how to pronounce it in England. Although I do have a cousin called Siân based here who doesn’t get any pronunciation issues to maybe people will manage. Granted that’s a more well recognised name…

I’ve never heard of it before and absolutely love it, spelt the welsh way

If your going to use a name spell it properly

Foil Arms and Hogg. A fabulous Irish comedy group, and one of the characters is Osian. 🥰

I did wonder whether you meant Osian or Ossian and decided you couldn't because Oshan is such a weird spelling - I thought it must be a totally different name. That's all that spelling it like that will achieve, really - people who know Os(s)ian might not recognise that that's what you're getting at, and people who don't won't be any the wiser anyway.

Love Osian, though. It's on my dream names list (list of names that my husband would never let me use ).

Not spelt like that.
I know far too many Osians to even consider it

Oh the irony

I'm dyslexic but not cruel enough to stamp and name on a kid with a ridiculous spelling. No irony at all.

My poor spelling isn't another's misfortune

Oshan is how Osian is pronounced. I’ve never seen the name Oshan.

Yes, Foil Arms & Hog are completely fabulous, I'd highly recommend going to see them live but the character's name is Oisín - pronounced uh-sheen. The name meaning in Irish is little deer.

I would spell it as Osian.

It's very popular in Wales (ranked 21 in the Welsh top 100 in 2020) but it won't be anywhere near as high in the combined England and Wales stats. I don't think it's at imminent risk of becoming very popular outside of Wales.

It's my favourite name for a boy but I can't see DH agreeing unfortunately!

I am also in London and I can't see any issues using it in London. I know someone who has an Oisín (the Irish version of the name) and people have learned how to say and spell it.

Every other boy under 7 is called osian here in Wales. Oshan is a grim spelling. I'd read it as ohhh shan.

I'm in the north and the Osians tend to be aged 25-45. Everyone I know seems to have a cousin, uncle, brother or friend with the name.

If I were a teacher and saw Oshan in the list of names, I wouldn't even register that it was supposed to be a welsh name- I'd guess at it being indian

Osian will get called Oh-sigh-un a lot, Oshan will get called Ocean.

I would also read Oshan as Ohh-shan, not Osian.

Someone I know in Wrexham says every other little boy there seems to be called Osian.

Osian is lovely but I would stick to that spelling.

I know 1 and know of 1 other. Both called Oshan. We are not in wales. I think it's a lovely name and gaining popularity.

I say this gently and with respect, but please don't give your child a name from a language you don't speak and decide to misspell it. I don't think that would be very nice for him.
Osian is a lovely name though, and very common in Wales.

Sorry I first read it as Osh-an 😬
How should it be pronounced?

Thanks everyone! Some interesting takes here which are helpful in making my mind up.

I have definitely seen it spelt both ways and while I knew Osian was the Welsh way, I didn’t realise that Oshan was as unheard of a spelling as it seems to be from reactions here. I think Osian will hang on the list by a thread for now.

No I don’t speak Welsh but to be fair neither do my (Welsh born and bred) grandparents 😂

I. Usually prefer more traditional names like Thomas, Samuel, Edward etc but I LOVE Oshan! I've not heard it before but really like it! Great sound - kind of cool. Good for a boy and a man.

Oshan is a Sri Lankan name.