What does Cathal mean?
Cathal joins the Irish words for “battle” and “rule,” “strong in battle.”
What does Odhran mean?
Odhrán means “little pale or dun-coloured one.”
Cathal vs Odhran
Which is more popular?
Odhran is more popular than Cathal today: about 5 US babies were given the name Odhran in 2025, compared with 0 named Cathal.
| Cathal | Odhran | |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Strong in battle | Little pale-green one |
| Origin | Irish | Irish |
| Gender | Boy | Boy |
| Pronunciation | KAH-hal | OH-rawn |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| First appeared | 1998 | 2020 |
| Peak year | 2000 (10) | 2022 (7) |
| In 2025 | 0 | 5 |
| Trend | Declining | Steady |
Popularity over time, 1880–2025
Cathal
Odhran
Source: US Social Security Administration.
Births by decade
| Decade | Cathal | Odhran |
|---|---|---|
| 2020s | 0 | 36 |
| 2010s | 5 | 0 |
| 2000s | 29 | 0 |
| 1990s | 6 | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Is Cathal or Odhran more popular?
Odhran is more popular than Cathal today: about 5 US babies were given the name Odhran in 2025, compared with 0 named Cathal.
What is the difference between Cathal and Odhran?
Cathal means Strong in battle (Irish origin), while Odhran means Little pale-green one (Irish origin).
Which name is older, Cathal or Odhran?
In US records, Cathal first appears in 1998 and Odhran in 2020, so Cathal has the longer recorded history.