Clinton vs Sean
Clinton and Seancompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2013, Clinton was ranked #711 and Sean #5 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1984, Clinton was ranked #93 and Sean #51 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1983, Clinton was ranked #86 and Sean #71 among boys in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Clinton was ranked #5119 and Sean #638 among boys in England and Wales.
Clinton and Sean over time
Clinton and Sean appear together in 4 published lists, across 74 years of shared records. Sean held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Clinton in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Clinton reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Sean 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Clinton and Sean changed places 6 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1971 and 1983, ending at #86 and #71.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Clinton #784 in 1996, Sean #49 in 1996.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys27 shared years, 1996–2024
Clinton held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sean in 27.
Highest recorded here: Clinton #784 in 1996, Sean #49 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Clinton #5119, Sean #638.
Republic of Ireland · Boys26 shared years, 1969–2013
Clinton held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sean in 26.
Highest recorded here: Clinton #196 in 1969, Sean #1 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Clinton #711, Sean #5.
New Zealand · Boys12 shared years, 1971–1983
Clinton held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Sean in 8.
Highest recorded here: Clinton #59 in 1973, Sean #47 in 1971.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1983: Clinton #86, Sean #71.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys9 shared years, 1976–1984
Clinton held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sean in 9.
Highest recorded here: Clinton #77 in 1980, Sean #51 in 1984.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1984: Clinton #93, Sean #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 | Clinton | Sean |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | The Irish form of John, ultimately carrying the meaning 'Yahweh is gracious' via its Hebrew ancestry. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Irish, Anglicised form of Sean, via Hebrew John |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ʃɔːn/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #5119 (2024) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #141 (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 | medium |
What the data shows
- Sean has a recorded origin (Irish, Anglicised form of Sean, via Hebrew John); Clinton does not have one recorded yet.
- Clinton has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Sean.
- A meaning is recorded for Sean; Clinton doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Clinton
Popularity journey
First recorded1969
First recorded at #196 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1969 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1971–1983
Highest recorded position: #59 among boys in New Zealand, in 1973 (recorded 1971–1983).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #5119 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys
Sean
Popularity journey
First recorded1963
First recorded at #82 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1963 — 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: #1 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1997 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #141 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys