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