Caroline vs Shannon
Caroline and Shannoncompared 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 · Girls
In 1985, Caroline was ranked #85 and Shannon #50 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1981, Caroline was ranked #84 and Shannon #67 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2015, Caroline was ranked #358 and Shannon #175 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Caroline was ranked #381 and Shannon #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Caroline was ranked #1406 and Shannon #1743 among girls in England and Wales.
Caroline and Shannon over time
Caroline and Shannon appear together in 5 published lists, across 107 years of shared records. Shannon held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Caroline in 0.
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.
Caroline reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Shannon 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 1985, Shannon moved ahead of Caroline in New Zealand · Girls — #60 and #65 the year before became #85 and #50.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Caroline and Shannon changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #1406 and #1743.
- Longest-running competitions
Caroline and Shannon were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 46 years, from 1974 to 2025, ending at #381 and #885.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Caroline #182 in 1996, Shannon #11 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls46 shared years, 1974–2025
Caroline held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Shannon in 27.
Highest recorded here: Caroline #4 in 1974, Shannon #11 in 1995.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Caroline #381, Shannon #885.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Caroline held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Shannon in 21.
Highest recorded here: Caroline #182 in 1996, Shannon #11 in 1996.
The order changed in 2020: Caroline moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #1119 and #1063; by 2020 that had become #1200 and #1846.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Caroline #1406, Shannon #1743.
Northern Ireland · Girls14 shared years, 1997–2015
Caroline held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Shannon in 14.
Highest recorded here: Caroline #112 in 1998, Shannon #2 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Caroline #358, Shannon #175.
New Zealand · Girls10 shared years, 1976–1985
Caroline held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Shannon in 7.
Highest recorded here: Caroline #56 in 1978, Shannon #46 in 1981.
The order changed in 1985: Shannon moved ahead. In 1984 they stood at #60 and #65; by 1985 that had become #85 and #50.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Caroline #85, Shannon #50.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls8 shared years, 1974–1981
Caroline held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Shannon in 5.
Highest recorded here: Caroline #65 in 1979, Shannon #58 in 1980.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1981: Caroline #84, Shannon #67.
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 | Caroline | Shannon |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | ||
| Syllables | 4 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #381 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #885 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Caroline has 4 syllables, compared with 2 for Shannon.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Caroline
Popularity journey
First recorded1957
First recorded at #94 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1957 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1979 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #392 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls
Shannon
Popularity journey
First recorded1973
First recorded at #69 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1973 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 1997 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls