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Baby names

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

Original poster

Oshan?

41 replies

WhiskyCollins · 14/07/2022 12:11

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).

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itrytomakemyway · 14/07/2022 19:40

If you are going to use a Welsh name it is respectful to spell it correctly. Osian is incredibly popular in Wales - I know so many under 10s called Osian.

YungDumbThrills · 14/07/2022 19:42

I have an osian :) I love that it's shortened to Oshy - he really suits it. Obviously biased, but definitely go with it!

lastminutedotcom22 · 14/07/2022 20:19

I know a Joshuan not Oshuan tho

Luredbyapomegranate · 14/07/2022 20:28

Glitterspy · 14/07/2022 12:21

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.

It does not. It comes across as a phonetic spelling of Osian.

I think you are better w the original spelling OP - Sian is a pretty common name outside Wales so I don’t think people will find it that hard to figure it out.

travellinglighter · 14/07/2022 20:31

WhiskyCollins · 14/07/2022 12:19

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 have an Osian at home. Love the name when I picked still love it now. He gets Osh(rhymes with Josh). I have one friend who calls him ocean but other than that it’s a lovely name. His second name Wyn fits it beautifully.

KirstenBlest · 14/07/2022 20:32

@Luredbyapomegranate , Welsh is phonetic. Oshan in Welsh would be OSS-han. Oshan looks like a yoonique spelling of a common name.

Letterspostname · 14/07/2022 20:41

Osian is very very popular where I am in South Wales. I counted up and I know 10 under 10!

Osian is a much nicer spelling and I think it’s lovely.

CaffiSaliMali · 14/07/2022 22:16

For the PP who asked, Osian is pronounced OSH-anne.

goldfinchonthelawn · 14/07/2022 22:50

It's great. Though if you have Welsh heritage, Idris is the greatest name ever. Wish i could have convinced DH of this.

SNWannabe · 14/07/2022 22:55

GogLais · 14/07/2022 15:51

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.

As a Scot I am already pronouncing Oshan as Ocean as they’re the same word to me… so how is Oshan being pronounced by others? And how is the Welsh Osian pronounced…🤔

oh and it’s a no from me @WhiskyCollins just use the correct spelling of the Welsh name…

Original poster
WhiskyCollins · 14/07/2022 23:19

I think Oshan must just be an attempt at writing the name phonetically but it’s clearly not very effective! 😂I genuinely thought it was just a variant spelling. If I do go for it now, I’ll use the Welsh spelling.

@SNWannabe The ‘O’ is short like in Opposite or Oscar, not ‘Oh’ as in ocean or open.

OP posts:
KirstenBlest · 15/07/2022 07:58

@SNWannabe , Osian is OSH-an
Osh as in Josh, -an as in toucan, can, pan, tan etc
The stress is on the Osh.
(not like Joanne where the stress is on the anne)

Frazzled2207 · 15/07/2022 08:04

Osian not oshan

it ought to be pronounceable for English but there will be a tendency to say oh-shaan whereas the /o/ is short like the first /o/ in octopus and IME many English can struggle with /sian/ too.

sunglassesonthetable · 15/07/2022 11:15

Love Osian. I'd go the original Welsh spelling though.

travellinglighter · 15/07/2022 13:48

goldfinchonthelawn · 14/07/2022 22:50

It's great. Though if you have Welsh heritage, Idris is the greatest name ever. Wish i could have convinced DH of this.

Funnily enough, the friend I have who calls him Ocean is a Scot.

Heartofglass12345 · 15/07/2022 14:04

I love the name Osian as I have one Grin it is quite common around here though but I didn't know that when I gave him the name, but I still love it and it suits him Smile

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