Andrew vs Shane
Andrew and Shane compared 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 1996, Andrew was ranked #22 and Shane #83 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1998, Andrew was ranked #32 and Shane #90 among boys in New Zealand.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Andrew was ranked #104 and Shane #478 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Andrew was ranked #106 and Shane #152 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Andrew was ranked #216 and Shane #216 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Andrew was ranked #334 and Shane #1153 among boys in England and Wales.
Andrew and Shane over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Andrew and Shane over time
Andrew and Shane appear together in 5 published lists, across 206 years of shared records. Andrew held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Shane in 1.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Andrew reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Shane 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Andrew and Shane changed places 9 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2024, ending at #216 and #216.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 43 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Andrew and Shane averaged 27.4 places apart, ending at #22 and #83.
- Longest-running competitions
Andrew and Shane were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #334 and #1153.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Andrew #29 in 1996, Shane #74 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Andrew held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Shane in 47.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #16 in 1992, Shane #3 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Andrew #106, Shane #152.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys43 shared years, 1954–1996
Andrew held the stronger position in 43 of those years, Shane in 0.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #4 in 1970, Shane #15 in 1971.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1996: Andrew #22, Shane #83.
New Zealand · Boys43 shared years, 1955–1998
Andrew held the stronger position in 43 of those years, Shane in 0.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #2 in 1975, Shane #12 in 1968.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1998: Andrew #32, Shane #90.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Andrew held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Shane in 0.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #29 in 1996, Shane #74 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Andrew #334, Shane #1153.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Andrew held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Shane in 3.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #5 in 1997, Shane #41 in 2002.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Andrew #216, Shane #216.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Andrew
Pairs where Andrew shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Andrew vs Kenneth
In 1964 they stood at #34 and #41 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 7 places apart; by 2024 they were #106 and #785.
Andrew · Kenneth · 60 shared years, 1964–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Andrew vs Raymond
In 1964 they stood at #34 and #30 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #106 and #509.
Andrew · Raymond · 61 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Oliver vs Andrew
In 1996 they stood at #23 and #29 in England and Wales · Boys, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #6 and #334.
Oliver · Andrew · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- George vs Andrew
In 1996 they stood at #19 and #29 in England and Wales · Boys, 10 places apart; by 2025 they were #7 and #334.
George · Andrew · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other comparisons involving Shane
Pairs where Shane shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Patrick vs Shane
In 1996 they stood at #66 and #74 in England and Wales · Boys, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #134 and #1153.
Patrick · Shane · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Shane vs Anthony
In 1996 they stood at #74 and #65 in England and Wales · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #1153 and #239.
Shane · Anthony · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Shane vs Tyler
In 1996 they stood at #74 and #67 in England and Wales · Boys, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #1153 and #265.
Shane · Tyler · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Shane vs Ross
In 1996 they stood at #74 and #68 in England and Wales · Boys, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #1153 and #2014.
Shane · Ross · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — close in one country, far apart in another.
- Ivy vs Evie
Ivy and Evie averaged 4.8 places apart in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, and 408 places apart in England and Wales · Girls.
Ivy · Evie · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Close in one country, far apart in another
- Ella vs Harper
Ella and Harper averaged 6.0 places apart in New Zealand · Girls, and 944 places apart in England and Wales · Girls.
Ella · Harper · 24 shared years, 2001–2025 · Close in one country, far apart in another
- Mia vs Harper
Mia and Harper averaged 6.3 places apart in New Zealand · Girls, and 945 places apart in England and Wales · Girls.
Mia · Harper · 24 shared years, 2001–2025 · Close in one country, far apart in another
- Ivy vs Hazel
Ivy and Hazel averaged 6.4 places apart in New Zealand · Girls, and 354 places apart in England and Wales · Girls.
Ivy · Hazel · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Close in one country, far apart in another
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Andrew | Shane |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | The English form of Greek Andreas, from 'andreios' ('manly, masculine'), itself from 'aner' ('man'). The apostle Andrew was the first disciple to join Jesus and is patron saint of Scotland. | An Anglicized form of Seán, ultimately from Hebrew elements meaning 'Yahweh' and 'gracious' — the same root tradition as John. Popularised in America by the 1953 western film Shane. |
| Origin | Greek, biblical | Hebrew, via Irish Seán |
| Pronunciation | /ˈæn.dɹuː/ | /ˈʃeɪn/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Seán, Sean, Shaun, Shawn |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #106 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #152 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Andrew is recorded with a Greek, biblical origin, while Shane is recorded with a Hebrew, via Irish Seán origin.
- Andrew and Shane both have 2 syllables.
- Andrew's recorded meaning differs from Shane's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Andrew a "medium" Data Confidence level and Shane a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Andrew
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #344 among boys in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1954–2013
Highest recorded position: #2 among boys in New Zealand, in 1975 (recorded 1954–2013).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #334 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Shane
Popularity journey
First recorded1954
First recorded at #72 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1954 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1996 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1153 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys