Afia vs Siobhán
Afia and Siobháncompared 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 2024, Afia was ranked #1449 and Siobhán #3015 among girls in England and Wales.
Afia and Siobhán over time
Afia and Siobhán appear together in 1 published list, across 28 years of shared records. Siobhán held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Afia 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.
Siobhán reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Afia 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.
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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Afia and Siobhán changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1997 and 2024, ending at #1449 and #3015.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Afia held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Siobhán in 17.
Highest recorded here: Afia #1037 in 2012, Siobhán #162 in 1997.
The order changed in 2018: Afia moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #1911 and #1817; by 2018 that had become #1788 and #4684.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Afia #1449, Siobhán #3015.
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 | Afia | Siobhán |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Shares the meaning of Joan/Jehanne: commonly interpreted as 'God is gracious'. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Irish |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ʃɪˈvɔːn/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Chevonne, Shivaun |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #1449 (2024) | Republic of Ireland #90 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 40/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Siobhán has a recorded origin (Irish); Afia does not have one recorded yet.
- Afia has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Siobhán.
- A meaning is recorded for Siobhán; Afia doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW.
- The available evidence gives Afia a "medium" Data Confidence level and Siobhán a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Afia
Popularity journey
First recorded1997
First recorded at #2411 among girls in England and Wales in 1997 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Girls
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #1037 among girls in England and Wales, in 2012 (recorded 1997–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1449 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls
Siobhán
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #35 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1971 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #90 in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland