Ada vs Shanon
Ada and Shanoncompared 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.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2011, Ada was ranked #386 and Shanon #5785 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2001, Ada was ranked #606 and Shanon #606 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Ada and Shanon over time
Ada and Shanon appear together in 1 published list, across 13 years of shared records. Ada held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Shanon 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.
Shanon reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Ada in none. 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.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls13 shared years, 1996–2011
Ada held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Shanon in 4.
Highest recorded here: Ada #386 in 2011, Shanon #928 in 1999.
The order changed in 2001: Ada moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #1831 and #1313; by 2001 that had become #1520 and #2466.
Most recent shared year, 2011: Ada #386, Shanon #5785.
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 | Ada | Shanon |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | A short form of Germanic names beginning with 'adal' meaning 'noble', such as Adelaide or Adelina. Notably borne by Ada Lovelace, who assisted Charles Babbage with early computer development. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Germanic | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈeɪ.də/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #18 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #5785 (2011) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 60/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Ada has a recorded origin (Germanic); Shanon does not have one recorded yet.
- Ada and Shanon both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Ada; Shanon doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE.
How each name got here
Ada
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #229 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #6 among girls in Norway, in 2019 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #18 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls
Shanon
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #1005 among girls in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Girls
Highest recorded1998–2001
Highest recorded position: #498 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1998 (recorded 1998–2001).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2011
Most recently recorded at #5785 among girls in England and Wales, in 2011.
England and Wales · Girls