Clodagh vs Shirley
Clodagh and Shirleycompared 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 · Girls
In 2023, Clodagh was ranked #54 and Shirley #856 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2011, Clodagh was ranked #62 and Shirley #444 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Clodagh was ranked #1197 and Shirley #4201 among girls in England and Wales.
Clodagh and Shirley over time
Clodagh and Shirley appear together in 2 published lists, across 68 years of shared records. Clodagh held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Shirley in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.
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 1983, Clodagh moved ahead of Shirley in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #151 and #134 the year before became #142 and #158.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Clodagh and Shirley changed places 4 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2025, ending at #1197 and #4201.
- Longest-running competitions
Clodagh and Shirley were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 39 years, from 1964 to 2023, ending at #54 and #856.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls39 shared years, 1964–2023
Clodagh held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Shirley in 13.
Highest recorded here: Clodagh #39 in 1998, Shirley #64 in 1971.
The order changed in 1983: Clodagh moved ahead. In 1982 they stood at #151 and #134; by 1983 that had become #142 and #158.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Clodagh #54, Shirley #856.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2025
Clodagh held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Shirley in 2.
Highest recorded here: Clodagh #897 in 1997, Shirley #1107 in 2001.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Clodagh #1197, Shirley #4201.
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 | Clodagh | Shirley |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | A place-derived name, taken from the River Clodiagh in County Waterford, rather than from a traditional Irish word root. Popularised as a personal name by Clodagh Beresford (1879-1957), daughter of the Marquess of Waterford. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Irish | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈkloʊdə/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #47 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #4201 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 65/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 74/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Clodagh has a recorded origin (Irish); Shirley does not have one recorded yet.
- Clodagh and Shirley both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Clodagh; Shirley doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Clodagh
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #149 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #20 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2024 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1197 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Shirley
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #48 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1954–1964
Highest recorded position: #30 among girls in New Zealand, in 1957 (recorded 1954–1964).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #4201 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls