Ashley vs Shannon
Ashley and Shannoncompared 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 · Girls
In 1998, Ashley was ranked #47 and Shannon #50 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2001, Ashley was ranked #60 and Shannon #83 among girls in New Zealand.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1990, Ashley was ranked #76 and Shannon #90 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1991, Ashley was ranked #79 and Shannon #94 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2017, Ashley was ranked #432 and Shannon #190 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Ashley was ranked #443 and Shannon #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2019, Ashley was ranked #481 and Shannon #4702 among boys in England and Wales.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Ashley was ranked #1271 and Shannon #2138 among girls in England and Wales.
Ashley and Shannon over time
Ashley and Shannon appear together in 7 published lists, across 154 years of shared records. Shannon held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Ashley in 3.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Ashley reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Shannon 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1988, Ashley moved ahead of Shannon in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #70 and #67 the year before became #65 and #74.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Ashley and Shannon changed places 7 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2025, ending at #1271 and #2138.
- Longest-running competitions
Ashley and Shannon were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1271 and #2138.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Ashley #152 in 1996, Shannon #11 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls46 shared years, 1974–2025
Ashley held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Shannon in 30.
Highest recorded here: Ashley #128 in 1995, Shannon #11 in 1995.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ashley #443, Shannon #885.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Ashley held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Shannon in 19.
Highest recorded here: Ashley #152 in 1996, Shannon #11 in 1996.
The order changed in 2020: Ashley moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #1063 and #1063; by 2020 that had become #749 and #1846.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ashley #1271, Shannon #2138.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys19 shared years, 1973–1991
Ashley held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Shannon in 10.
Highest recorded here: Ashley #56 in 1985, Shannon #44 in 1977.
The order changed in 1988: Ashley moved ahead. In 1987 they stood at #70 and #67; by 1988 that had become #65 and #74.
Most recent shared year, 1991: Ashley #79, Shannon #94.
New Zealand · Girls16 shared years, 1986–2001
Ashley held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Shannon in 4.
Highest recorded here: Ashley #23 in 1991, Shannon #31 in 1993.
The order changed in 1999: Ashley moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #52 and #37; by 1999 that had become #64 and #67.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Ashley #60, Shannon #83.
Northern Ireland · Girls16 shared years, 1997–2017
Ashley held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Shannon in 16.
Highest recorded here: Ashley #127 in 1997, Shannon #2 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Ashley #432, Shannon #190.
England and Wales · Boys15 shared years, 1996–2019
Ashley held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Shannon in 0.
Highest recorded here: Ashley #40 in 1996, Shannon #1168 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Ashley #481, Shannon #4702.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls12 shared years, 1987–1998
Ashley held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Shannon in 0.
Highest recorded here: Ashley #17 in 1987, Shannon #45 in 1993.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1998: Ashley #47, Shannon #50.
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 | Ashley | Shannon |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | Used for both boys and girls | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | ||
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #443 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #885 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Ashley and Shannon both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Ashley
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #372 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 recorded1985–2011
Highest recorded position: #17 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1987 (recorded 1985–2011).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1271 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Shannon
Popularity journey
First recorded1973
First recorded at #69 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1973 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 1997 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2138 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls