Carl vs Shea
Carl 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 2015, Carl was ranked #415 and Shea #33 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Carl was ranked #770 and Shea #161 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Carl was ranked #2263 and Shea #1322 among boys in England and Wales.
Carl and Shea over time
Carl and Shea appear together in 3 published lists, across 66 years of shared records. Shea held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Carl 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.
Carl 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
Carl and Shea changed places 7 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #2263 and #1322.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Carl held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Shea in 10.
Highest recorded here: Carl #116 in 1996, Shea #308 in 1999.
The order changed in 2021: Shea moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #1111 and #1192; by 2021 that had become #1984 and #1004.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Carl #2263, Shea #1322.
Republic of Ireland · Boys23 shared years, 1976–2023
Carl held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Shea in 12.
Highest recorded here: Carl #109 in 1976, Shea #150 in 2016.
The order changed in 2006: Shea moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #185 and #213; by 2006 that had become #239 and #222.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Carl #770, Shea #161.
Northern Ireland · Boys14 shared years, 1997–2015
Carl held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Shea in 14.
Highest recorded here: Carl #130 in 1998, Shea #25 in 2007.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Carl #415, Shea #33.
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 | Carl | 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 | 1 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Sé, Séaghdha, Shay |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #192 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #125 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Shea has a recorded origin (Irish); Carl does not have one recorded yet.
- Carl and Shea both have 1 syllable.
- A meaning is recorded for Shea; Carl doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
- The available evidence gives Carl 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
Carl
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #133 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1959–1992
Highest recorded position: #41 among boys in New Zealand, in 1981 (recorded 1959–1992).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #192 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · 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