Bethany vs Shannon
Bethany 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, Bethany was ranked #73 and Shannon #50 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Bethany was ranked #253 and Shannon #407 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Bethany was ranked #539 and Shannon #1743 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Bethany was ranked #544 and Shannon #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Bethany and Shannon over time
Bethany and Shannon appear together in 3 published lists, across 89 years of shared records. Bethany held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Shannon in 1.
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.
Shannon reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Bethany 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 1997, Bethany moved ahead of Shannon in England and Wales · Girls — #13 and #11 the year before became #14 and #16.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 28 shared years in Northern Ireland · Girls, Bethany and Shannon averaged 54.4 places apart, ending at #253 and #407.
- Longest-running competitions
Bethany and Shannon were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 32 years, from 1991 to 2025, ending at #544 and #885.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Bethany #32 in 1998, Shannon #2 in 1997.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #13 and #11 in England and Wales · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2024 they were #539 and #1743.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls32 shared years, 1991–2025
Bethany held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Shannon in 26.
Highest recorded here: Bethany #179 in 2003, Shannon #11 in 1995.
The order changed in 2021: Bethany moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #544 and #375; by 2021 that had become #517 and #586.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Bethany #544, Shannon #885.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Bethany held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Shannon in 1.
Highest recorded here: Bethany #11 in 1999, Shannon #11 in 1996.
The order changed in 1997: Bethany moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #13 and #11; by 1997 that had become #14 and #16.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Bethany #539, Shannon #1743.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Bethany held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Shannon in 12.
Highest recorded here: Bethany #32 in 1998, Shannon #2 in 1997.
The order changed in 2023: Bethany moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #243 and #243; by 2023 that had become #159 and #264.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Bethany #253, Shannon #407.
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 | Bethany | Shannon |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #544 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #885 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Bethany has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Shannon.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Bethany
Popularity journey
First recorded1991
First recorded at #457 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1991 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #11 among girls in England and Wales, in 1999 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #544 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · 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 #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls