Alison vs Sinead
Alison and Sineadcompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2022, Alison was ranked #222 and Sinead #905 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2013, Alison was ranked #440 and Sinead #234 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Alison was ranked #1603 and Sinead #3695 among girls in England and Wales.
Alison and Sinead over time
Alison and Sinead appear together in 3 published lists, across 97 years of shared records. Sinead held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Alison in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 2 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 1 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 2014, Alison moved ahead of Sinead in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #139 and #131 the year before became #151 and #188.
- Longest-running competitions
Alison and Sinead were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 58 years, from 1964 to 2022, ending at #222 and #905.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Alison #118 in 1998, Sinead #54 in 1998.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls58 shared years, 1964–2022
Alison held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Sinead in 49.
Highest recorded here: Alison #33 in 1989, Sinead #2 in 1975.
The order changed in 2014: Alison moved ahead. In 2013 they stood at #139 and #131; by 2014 that had become #151 and #188.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Alison #222, Sinead #905.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Alison held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Sinead in 24.
Highest recorded here: Alison #225 in 1996, Sinead #154 in 2003.
The order changed in 2024: Alison moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #2201 and #1705; by 2024 that had become #1603 and #3695.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Alison #1603, Sinead #3695.
Northern Ireland · Girls10 shared years, 1997–2013
Alison held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sinead in 10.
Highest recorded here: Alison #118 in 1998, Sinead #54 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Alison #440, Sinead #234.
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 | Alison | Sinead |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Irish form of Jeannette/Janet; the underlying chain traces to the Hebrew name Yochanan, commonly interpreted as 'God is gracious'. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Irish, via Anglo-Norman French Jeannette |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈʃɪnʲeːdˠ/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #213 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #3695 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Sinead has a recorded origin (Irish, via Anglo-Norman French Jeannette); Alison does not have one recorded yet.
- Alison has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Sinead.
- A meaning is recorded for Sinead; Alison doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Alison
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #76 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1952–1996
Highest recorded position: #18 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1979 (recorded 1952–1996).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #213 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Sinead
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #109 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 recorded1964–2022
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1975 (recorded 1964–2022).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #3695 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls