The first name Ossian
A boy’s name from Irish meaning “deer”.
2 syllables Male
Meaning and origin
Irish origin
Ossian means “deer” in Irish.
An anglicisation, made known by James Macpherson, of Irish Oisín, diminutive form of os (“deer”).
More names that mean deer.
From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Popularity
Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025
In 2025, 6 boys were named Ossian, making it the 3,256th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 2008, with 13 births (#1,596).
Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Ossian with other names.
Popularity in the United States
Babies named Ossian at birth, 1880–2025
In 2025, 8 boys born in the United States were named Ossian, the 9,475th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 2023, when 24 were.
US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.
Ossian in other languages
Equivalent forms of the name, from Wiktionary
Spelled Ossian in Finnish and Swedish too.
Nicknames and spellings
Other spellings and forms
Famous people named Ossian
2 on Wikidata, most written-about first
- Leland Ossian HowardAmerican entomologist (1857-1950)
- Ossi BlomqvistFinnish speed skater (1908-1955)
More Irish boys’ names
Questions
- What does the name Ossian mean?
- Ossian means “deer” in Irish.
- What is the origin of the name Ossian?
- An anglicisation, made known by James Macpherson, of Irish Oisín, diminutive form of os (“deer”).
- How popular is the name Ossian?
- In 2025, 6 boys born in England and Wales were named Ossian, ranking 3,256th. Its peak was 2008, with 13 births.
- Is Ossian a boy's or a girl's name?
- Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 106 US babies named Ossian since 1880 were boys.
- When was Ossian most popular?
- 2023 in the United States, when 24 babies were named Ossian, its highest rank at 4,431st.
- What are other spellings of Ossian?
- Oisin.