Aaron vs Shaun
Aaron and Shauncompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1997, Aaron was ranked #32 and Shaun #96 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1999, Aaron was ranked #55 and Shaun #92 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Aaron was ranked #71 and Shaun #577 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2017, Aaron was ranked #80 and Shaun #318 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Aaron was ranked #114 and Shaun #727 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Aaron was ranked #154 and Shaun #1162 among boys in England and Wales.
Aaron and Shaun over time
Aaron and Shaun appear together in 5 published lists, across 169 years of shared records. Aaron held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Shaun in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Shaun reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Aaron in 1. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1971, Aaron moved ahead of Shaun in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #77 and #62 the year before became #53 and #81.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Aaron and Shaun changed places 4 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1966 and 2025, ending at #71 and #577.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Aaron and Shaun averaged 35.9 places apart, ending at #32 and #96.
- Longest-running competitions
Aaron and Shaun were both ranked in New Zealand · Boys for 33 years, from 1967 to 1999, ending at #55 and #92.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Aaron #31 in 1998, Shaun #76 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys58 shared years, 1966–2025
Aaron held the stronger position in 52 of those years, Shaun in 4.
Highest recorded here: Aaron #6 in 1998, Shaun #81 in 1993.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Aaron #71, Shaun #577.
New Zealand · Boys33 shared years, 1967–1999
Aaron held the stronger position in 32 of those years, Shaun in 1.
Highest recorded here: Aaron #8 in 1972, Shaun #34 in 1988.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1999: Aaron #55, Shaun #92.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Aaron held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Shaun in 0.
Highest recorded here: Aaron #31 in 1998, Shaun #76 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Aaron #154, Shaun #1162.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys29 shared years, 1969–1997
Aaron held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Shaun in 2.
Highest recorded here: Aaron #18 in 1986, Shaun #38 in 1981.
The order changed in 1971: Aaron moved ahead. In 1970 they stood at #77 and #62; by 1971 that had become #53 and #81.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Aaron #32, Shaun #96.
Northern Ireland · Boys20 shared years, 1997–2017
Aaron held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Shaun in 0.
Highest recorded here: Aaron #8 in 2000, Shaun #121 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Aaron #80, Shaun #318.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Aaron | Shaun |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Best known as the name of Moses's elder brother and the first high priest of Israel in the Old Testament; the literal meaning of the name itself is not reliably established. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew (likely of Egyptian origin) | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɛrən/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #71 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #577 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Aaron has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew (likely of Egyptian origin)); Shaun does not have one recorded yet.
- Aaron has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Shaun.
- A meaning is recorded for Aaron; Shaun doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Aaron
Popularity journey
First recorded1965
First recorded at #222 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1965 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1965–2025
Highest recorded position: #6 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1998 (recorded 1965–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #334 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys
Shaun
Popularity journey
First recorded1965
First recorded at #84 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1965 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1967–1999
Highest recorded position: #34 among boys in New Zealand, in 1988 (recorded 1967–1999).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #577 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys