Bebhinn vs May
Bebhinn and Maycompared 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 2024, Bebhinn was ranked #898 and May #342 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2017, Bebhinn was ranked #432 and May #355 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Bebhinn and May over time
Bebhinn and May appear together in 1 published list, across 24 years of shared records. May held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Bebhinn 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.
Bebhinn reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and May 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
Bebhinn and May changed places 7 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1976 and 2024, ending at #898 and #342.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls24 shared years, 1976–2024
Bebhinn held the stronger position in 8 of those years, May in 12.
Highest recorded here: Bebhinn #309 in 1994, May #289 in 2017.
The order changed in 2013: May moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #612 and #677; by 2013 that had become #894 and #424.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Bebhinn #898, May #342.
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 May
Pairs where May shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Anna vs May
In 1945 they stood at #38 and #43 in Norway · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #23 and #481.
Anna · May · 80 shared years, 1945–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Elisabeth vs May
In 1945 they stood at #50 and #43 in Norway · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #171 and #481.
Elisabeth · May · 80 shared years, 1945–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Gunn vs May
In 1945 they stood at #53 and #43 in Norway · Girls, 10 places apart; by 2005 they were #546 and #244.
Gunn · May · 60 shared years, 1945–2005 · Started together, ended far apart
- Laila vs May
Laila and May changed places 18 times in Norway · Girls between 1945 and 2025, ending at #408 and #481.
Laila · May · 79 shared years, 1945–2025 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
Side by side
| Field | Bebhinn | May |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-NIR, IE | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #898 (2024) | Norway · Girls #481 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 60/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Bebhinn has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for May.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Bebhinn
Popularity journey
First recorded1976
First recorded at #429 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1976 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1976–2024
Highest recorded position: #290 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1992 (recorded 1976–2024).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #898 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2024.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
May
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #43 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #24 among girls in Norway, in 1956 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #610 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls