Cameron vs Shane
Cameron 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, Cameron was ranked #12 and Shane #90 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1996, Cameron was ranked #31 and Shane #83 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Cameron was ranked #33 and Shane #478 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Cameron was ranked #223 and Shane #152 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Cameron was ranked #187 and Shane #216 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Cameron was ranked #216 and Shane #857 among boys in England and Wales.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2011, Cameron was ranked #1438 and Shane #5785 among girls in England and Wales.
Cameron and Shane over time
Cameron and Shane appear together in 5 published lists, across 155 years of shared records. Shane held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Cameron in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 3 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, and Cameron 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 1989, Cameron moved ahead of Shane in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #36 and #35 the year before became #30 and #43.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Cameron and Shane changed places 7 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2024, ending at #187 and #216.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Cameron and Shane averaged 34.0 places apart, ending at #31 and #83.
- Longest-running competitions
Cameron and Shane were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 30 years, from 1966 to 1996, ending at #31 and #83.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Cameron #28 in 2002, Shane #41 in 2002.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys40 shared years, 1969–2025
Cameron held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Shane in 40.
Highest recorded here: Cameron #86 in 2000, Shane #3 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Cameron #223, Shane #152.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys30 shared years, 1966–1996
Cameron held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Shane in 21.
Highest recorded here: Cameron #26 in 1992, Shane #15 in 1971.
The order changed in 1989: Cameron moved ahead. In 1988 they stood at #36 and #35; by 1989 that had become #30 and #43.
Most recent shared year, 1996: Cameron #31, Shane #83.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Cameron held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Shane in 0.
Highest recorded here: Cameron #23 in 2001, Shane #74 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Cameron #216, Shane #857.
New Zealand · Boys28 shared years, 1970–1998
Cameron held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Shane in 17.
Highest recorded here: Cameron #12 in 1998, Shane #13 in 1970.
The order changed in 1988: Cameron moved ahead. In 1987 they stood at #37 and #33; by 1988 that had become #37 and #39.
Most recent shared year, 1998: Cameron #12, Shane #90.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Cameron held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Shane in 10.
Highest recorded here: Cameron #28 in 2002, Shane #41 in 2002.
The order changed in 2024: Cameron moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #200 and #181; by 2024 that had become #187 and #216.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Cameron #187, Shane #216.
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 | Cameron | 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 | 3 | 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 #223 (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); Cameron does not have one recorded yet.
- Cameron has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Shane.
- A meaning is recorded for Shane; Cameron 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 Cameron 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
Cameron
Popularity journey
First recorded1966
First recorded at #94 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1966 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1970–2015
Highest recorded position: #11 among boys in New Zealand, in 2000 (recorded 1970–2015).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #223 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