Andrew vs Shay
Andrew and Shaycompared 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 · Boys
In 2025, Andrew was ranked #106 and Shay #52 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Andrew was ranked #104 and Shay #155 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Andrew was ranked #216 and Shay #177 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Andrew was ranked #315 and Shay #389 among boys in England and Wales.
Andrew and Shay over time
Andrew and Shay appear together in 3 published lists, across 96 years of shared records. Andrew held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Shay 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.
Andrew reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Shay 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2024, Shay moved ahead of Andrew in Northern Ireland · Boys — #139 and #200 the year before became #216 and #177.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Andrew and Shay changed places 5 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2024, ending at #216 and #177.
- Longest-running competitions
Andrew and Shay were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 39 years, from 1972 to 2025, ending at #106 and #52.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys39 shared years, 1972–2025
Andrew held the stronger position in 31 of those years, Shay in 8.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #18 in 1990, Shay #39 in 2022.
The order changed in 2018: Shay moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #76 and #84; by 2018 that had become #76 and #65.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Andrew #106, Shay #52.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Andrew held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Shay in 0.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #29 in 1996, Shay #156 in 2006.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Andrew #315, Shay #389.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Andrew held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Shay in 3.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #5 in 1997, Shay #93 in 2009.
The order changed in 2024: Shay moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #139 and #200; by 2024 that had become #216 and #177.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Andrew #216, Shay #177.
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 | Andrew | Shay |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| 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. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Greek, biblical | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈæn.dɹuː/ | 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 | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #106 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #52 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Andrew has a recorded origin (Greek, biblical); Shay does not have one recorded yet.
- Andrew has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Shay.
- A meaning is recorded for Andrew; Shay doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
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 #106 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Shay
Popularity journey
First recorded1972
First recorded at #279 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1972 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1972–2025
Highest recorded position: #39 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2022 (recorded 1972–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #52 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys