Orrin as a Baby Name. Meaning and Origin of Orrin

What is the meaning of the name Orrin ?

The baby name Orrin is a Male name , 2 syllables long and is pronounced OR-rin — /ˈɔːrɪn/ (US), /ˈɒrɪn/ (UK).

Orrin is Gaelic in Origin.

Orrin is an Anglicized given name with Gaelic roots, chiefly from Irish Odhrán/Ódhrán (also Odrán). The element odhar means “dun, tawny, sallow, pale green-grey,” combined with the diminutive -án, yielding the sense “little sallow/dun-colored one.” The form Orrin is also shared by a Highland river, which has helped the name’s recognition in Scotland, though its etymology remains Gaelic.

The name was borne by several early Irish saints, sustaining its use in medieval and later Gaelic-speaking communities. During the 19th century, Anglicized spellings such as Orrin, Orin, and Oran spread in Ireland, Scotland, and the English-speaking diaspora, with modest adoption in the United States (e.g., pioneer Orrin Porter Rockwell; Senator Orrin Hatch). Common variants include Odhrán/Ódhrán, Odrán, Oran, and Orin; Oren is a separate Hebrew name meaning “pine,” sometimes conflated with Orrin but etymologically distinct. The name remains familiar yet uncommon today.