Namewise

Bradley vs Shane

Bradley and Shanecompared 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 Zealand · Boys

    In 1998, Bradley was ranked #28 and Shane #90 among boys in New Zealand.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys

    In 1996, Bradley was ranked #29 and Shane #83 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2025, Bradley was ranked #372 and Shane #152 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2024, Bradley was ranked #404 and Shane #216 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • Scotland · Boys

    In 2024, Bradley was ranked #246 and Shane #478 among boys in Scotland.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2025, Bradley was ranked #352 and Shane #1153 among boys in England and Wales.

Bradley and Shane over time

Bradley and Shane appear together in 5 published lists, across 156 years of shared records. Shane held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Bradley in 1.

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.

Shane reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Bradley 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 1984, Bradley moved ahead of Shane in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #30 and #26 the year before became #31 and #32.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Bradley and Shane changed places 7 times in New South Wales, Australia · Boys between 1956 and 1996, ending at #29 and #83.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 41 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Bradley and Shane averaged 12.6 places apart, ending at #29 and #83.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Bradley and Shane were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #352 and #1153.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Bradley #28 in 1997, Shane #74 in 1996.

List by list

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys41 shared years, 1956–1996

    Bradley held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Shane in 22.

    Highest recorded here: Bradley #19 in 1976, Shane #15 in 1971.

    The order changed in 1984: Bradley moved ahead. In 1983 they stood at #30 and #26; by 1984 that had become #31 and #32.

    Most recent shared year, 1996: Bradley #29, Shane #83.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys33 shared years, 1987–2025

    Bradley held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Shane in 33.

    Highest recorded here: Bradley #130 in 2015, Shane #3 in 1996.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Bradley #372, Shane #152.

  • England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Bradley held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Shane in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Bradley #28 in 1997, Shane #74 in 1996.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Bradley #352, Shane #1153.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1997–2024

    Bradley held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Shane in 27.

    Highest recorded here: Bradley #68 in 1998, Shane #41 in 2002.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Bradley #404, Shane #216.

  • New Zealand · Boys25 shared years, 1973–1998

    Bradley held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Shane in 17.

    Highest recorded here: Bradley #28 in 1998, Shane #15 in 1979.

    The order changed in 1991: Bradley moved ahead. In 1990 they stood at #46 and #44; by 1991 that had become #52 and #53.

    Most recent shared year, 1998: Bradley #28, Shane #90.

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 Bradley

Pairs where Bradley shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Shane

Pairs where Shane shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — closest over the longest run.

All closest over the longest run→

Other pairs from New South Wales, Australia lists

Pairs measured inside New South Wales, Australia's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

New South Wales, Australia overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 1990s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 1990 and 1999.

The 1990s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Bradley, Shane
FieldBradleyShane
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Editorially researched profile
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningNot yet recordedAn Anglicized form of Seán, ultimately from Hebrew elements meaning 'Yahweh' and 'gracious' — the same root tradition as John. Popularised in America by the 1953 western film Shane.
OriginNot yet recordedHebrew, via Irish Seán
PronunciationNot yet recorded/ˈʃeɪn/
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedSeán, Sean, Shaun, Shawn
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ
Most recent popularity observationEngland and Wales · Boys #352 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Boys #152 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recorded90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)82/10094/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediumhigh

What the data shows

  • Shane has a recorded origin (Hebrew, via Irish Seán); Bradley does not have one recorded yet.
  • Bradley and Shane both have 2 syllables.
  • A meaning is recorded for Shane; Bradley doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
  • The available evidence gives Bradley a "medium" Data Confidence level and Shane a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.

How each name got here

Bradley

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1956

    First recorded at #83 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1956 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1956–2003

    Highest recorded position: #19 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1976 (recorded 1956–2003).

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #352 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys

Shane

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1954

    First recorded at #72 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1954 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1964–2025

    Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1996 (recorded 1964–2025).

    Republic of Ireland · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #1153 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys