Adam vs Shaun
Adam 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.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2017, Adam was ranked #18 and Shaun #318 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Adam was ranked #20 and Shaun #577 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1997, Adam was ranked #26 and Shaun #96 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Adam was ranked #35 and Shaun #1162 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Adam was ranked #42 and Shaun #727 among boys in Scotland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1999, Adam was ranked #47 and Shaun #92 among boys in New Zealand.
Adam and Shaun over time
Adam and Shaun appear together in 5 published lists, across 174 years of shared records. Adam 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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 of the lists they share.
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 1978, Adam moved ahead of Shaun in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #138 and #124 the year before became #121 and #124.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Adam and Shaun changed places 8 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1967 and 1999, ending at #47 and #92.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 33 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Adam and Shaun averaged 48.8 places apart, ending at #26 and #96.
- Longest-running competitions
Adam and Shaun were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 33 years, from 1965 to 1997, ending at #26 and #96.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Adam #16 in 1996, Shaun #76 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys59 shared years, 1966–2025
Adam held the stronger position in 53 of those years, Shaun in 6.
Highest recorded here: Adam #3 in 2001, Shaun #81 in 1993.
The order changed in 1978: Adam moved ahead. In 1977 they stood at #138 and #124; by 1978 that had become #121 and #124.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Adam #20, Shaun #577.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys33 shared years, 1965–1997
Adam held the stronger position in 33 of those years, Shaun in 0.
Highest recorded here: Adam #7 in 1979, Shaun #38 in 1981.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Adam #26, Shaun #96.
New Zealand · Boys33 shared years, 1967–1999
Adam held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Shaun in 6.
Highest recorded here: Adam #13 in 1986, Shaun #34 in 1988.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1999: Adam #47, Shaun #92.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Adam held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Shaun in 0.
Highest recorded here: Adam #16 in 1996, Shaun #76 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Adam #35, Shaun #1162.
Northern Ireland · Boys20 shared years, 1997–2017
Adam held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Shaun in 0.
Highest recorded here: Adam #3 in 2001, Shaun #121 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Adam #18, 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 | Adam | Shaun |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Traditionally understood as the Hebrew word for 'man', with a wordplay connection in Genesis to 'ground/earth', since Adam is described as formed from earth. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈædəm/ | 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 #20 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #577 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Adam has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Shaun does not have one recorded yet.
- Adam has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Shaun.
- A meaning is recorded for Adam; 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
Adam
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #380 among boys in Norway in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2001 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #72 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · 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