Brendan vs Shea
Brendan 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, Brendan was ranked #404 and Shea #51 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Brendan was ranked #402 and Shea #125 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Brendan was ranked #619 and Shea #619 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Brendan was ranked #1402 and Shea #1322 among boys in England and Wales.
Brendan and Shea over time
Brendan and Shea appear together in 3 published lists, across 88 years of shared records. Brendan held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Shea 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.
Brendan 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2023, Shea moved ahead of Brendan in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #205 and #214 the year before became #288 and #161.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Brendan and Shea changed places 9 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1976 and 2025, ending at #402 and #125.
- Longest-running competitions
Brendan and Shea were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 31 years, from 1976 to 2025, ending at #402 and #125.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Brendan #157 in 1998, Shea #308 in 1999.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1997 they stood at #73 and #70 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2024 they were #404 and #51.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys31 shared years, 1976–2025
Brendan held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Shea in 9.
Highest recorded here: Brendan #19 in 1976, Shea #125 in 2025.
The order changed in 2023: Shea moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #205 and #214; by 2023 that had become #288 and #161.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Brendan #402, Shea #125.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Brendan held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Shea in 8.
Highest recorded here: Brendan #157 in 1998, Shea #308 in 1999.
The order changed in 2020: Shea moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #1217 and #1253; by 2020 that had become #1548 and #1192.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Brendan #1402, Shea #1322.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Brendan held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Shea in 28.
Highest recorded here: Brendan #73 in 1997, Shea #25 in 2007.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Brendan #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 | Brendan | 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 #402 (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); Brendan does not have one recorded yet.
- Brendan has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Shea.
- A meaning is recorded for Shea; Brendan doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
- The available evidence gives Brendan 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
Brendan
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #17 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #16 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1965 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #402 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