Is it Brummie? Is it Bostin? Is it Boulton? No, the Birmingham bull is Ozzy!

The votes have been counted and officials have revealed the winning name for the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games bull sculpture. 

The towering Birmingham bull has been named Ozzy (in reference to the Black Sabbath lead singer) after a nationwide competition to find him a permanent name ahead of his new home at New Street Station.

The competition saw people offer up some wonderful suggestions for the much-loved bull which vowed crowds at the opening ceremony of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Some of the more memorable names included Shelby (in reference to the Peaky Blinders of Small Heath), Bostin, Brummie, Bab and Brumbull.

The organisers of the competition were overwhelmed with the response and thanked people for taking part and sending in their suggestions and votes.

Lord Peter Hendy, chair of Network Rail, said: “Firstly I’d like to thank everyone who took the time to at first send in their name suggestions and then vote for their favourite in final four – it truly shows how much affection people have for this star of the Commonwealth Games.

“It also proves to us how much of an honour it is for Network Rail to be the custodian of Ozzy the bull, and for New Street station to be its home. I can’t wait for it to be unveiled on the station concourse in time for the first anniversary of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.”

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, added: “So the public have had their say on what we should name the Bull and they couldn’t have made a clearer choice. Ozzy won by a resounding margin with a whopping 70% after more than 28,000 votes were cast.

“Like people right across our region, I cannot wait to see Ozzy take pride of place in New Street Station in a triumphant homecoming this summer – proudly bearing the name of the Prince of Darkness himself!

“My huge thanks once again to Network Rail for bringing the Bull home to Birmingham.

“The iconic symbol of the 2022 Commonwealth Games is back where it belongs.”

Black Sabbath lead singer Ozzy Osbourne, 74, performed at the closing ceremony of the games last year and said it had been an “honour” to take part in the event in the city where he grew up.

Upon hearing of the news that his name was chosen for the bull sculpture he said he was “blown away”: “I’ve just been told that they’ve chosen my name to name the bull, which is going to be in the station I believe in Birmingham.

“I can’t believe it. I’m absolutely blown away.”

Ozzy also thanked fans and voters for selecting his name: “Thank you for all your votes. I don’t know what to say any more. I’m thrilled to bits.

“God bless you all.

“I’m Birmingham forever.”