Bradley vs Shea
Bradley and Sheacompared 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 · Boys
In 2024, Bradley was ranked #404 and Shea #51 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Bradley was ranked #372 and Shea #125 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Bradley was ranked #246 and Shea #619 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Bradley was ranked #364 and Shea #1322 among boys in England and Wales.
Bradley and Shea over time
Bradley and Shea appear together in 3 published lists, across 85 years of shared records. Bradley held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Shea 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.
Bradley reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Shea 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
Bradley and Shea changed places 7 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1996 and 2025, ending at #372 and #125.
- Mirrored each other
Over 29 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Shea rose about as far as Bradley fell — from #200 and #369 in 1996 to #372 and #125 in 2025.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Bradley #28 in 1997, Shea #308 in 1999.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Bradley held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Shea in 0.
Highest recorded here: Bradley #28 in 1997, Shea #308 in 1999.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Bradley #364, Shea #1322.
Republic of Ireland · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2025
Bradley held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Shea in 8.
Highest recorded here: Bradley #130 in 2015, Shea #125 in 2025.
The order changed in 2021: Shea moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #183 and #240; by 2021 that had become #312 and #215.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Bradley #372, Shea #125.
Northern Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1997–2024
Bradley held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Shea in 26.
Highest recorded here: Bradley #68 in 1998, Shea #25 in 2007.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Bradley #404, Shea #51.
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 | Shea |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | The Anglicized form of Séaghdha, occasionally used as a feminine name as well. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Irish |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈʃeɪ/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Sé, Séaghdha, Shay |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #372 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #125 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Shea has a recorded origin (Irish); Bradley does not have one recorded yet.
- Bradley has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Shea.
- A meaning is recorded for Shea; Bradley doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
- The available evidence gives Bradley a "medium" Data Confidence level and Shea 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
Shea
Popularity journey
First recorded1976
First recorded at #316 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1976 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #25 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2007 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #125 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys