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 2024, Bradley was ranked #364 and Shane #857 among boys in England and Wales.
Bradley and Shane over time
Bradley and Shane appear together in 5 published lists, across 155 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 New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 41 years, from 1956 to 1996, ending at #29 and #83.
- 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 · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Bradley held the stronger position in 29 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, 2024: Bradley #364, Shane #857.
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.
Side by side
| Field | Bradley | Shane |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | An 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. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Hebrew, via Irish Seán |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈʃeɪn/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Seán, Sean, Shaun, Shawn |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #372 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #152 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
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
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
Highest recorded1956–2003
Highest recorded position: #19 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1976 (recorded 1956–2003).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #372 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Shane
Popularity journey
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
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1996 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #152 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys