Bethany vs Siobhán
Bethany and Siobháncompared 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.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2019, Bethany was ranked #131 and Siobhán #336 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Bethany was ranked #539 and Siobhán #3015 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Bethany was ranked #544 and Siobhán #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Bethany and Siobhán over time
Bethany and Siobhán appear together in 3 published lists, across 70 years of shared records. Bethany held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Siobhán in 1.
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.
Siobhán 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.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Bethany #32 in 1998, Siobhán #133 in 1997.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Bethany held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Siobhán in 0.
Highest recorded here: Bethany #11 in 1999, Siobhán #138 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Bethany #539, Siobhán #3015.
Republic of Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1991–2025
Bethany held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Siobhán in 25.
Highest recorded here: Bethany #179 in 2003, Siobhán #33 in 1991.
The order changed in 2018: Bethany moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #524 and #396; by 2018 that had become #474 and #896.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Bethany #544, Siobhán #885.
Northern Ireland · Girls13 shared years, 1997–2019
Bethany held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Siobhán in 0.
Highest recorded here: Bethany #32 in 1998, Siobhán #133 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Bethany #131, Siobhán #336.
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 | Siobhán |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Shares the meaning of Joan/Jehanne: commonly interpreted as 'God is gracious'. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Irish |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ʃɪˈvɔːn/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Chevonne, Shivaun |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #544 (2025) | Republic of Ireland #90 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Siobhán has a recorded origin (Irish); Bethany does not have one recorded yet.
- Bethany has 3 syllables, compared with 1 for Siobhán.
- A meaning is recorded for Siobhán; Bethany doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
- The available evidence gives Bethany a "medium" Data Confidence level and Siobhán a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
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
Siobhán
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #35 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 recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1971 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #90 in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland