Colby vs Shea
Colby 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 2024, Colby was ranked #216 and Shea #51 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Colby was ranked #577 and Shea #125 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Colby was ranked #165 and Shea #619 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Colby was ranked #222 and Shea #1322 among boys in England and Wales.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Colby was ranked #5891 and Shea #3015 among girls in England and Wales.
Colby and Shea over time
Colby and Shea appear together in 3 published lists, across 47 years of shared records. Shea held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Colby 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.
Shea reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Colby 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.
- Mirrored each other
Over 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Colby rose about as far as Shea fell — from #853 and #755 in 1996 to #222 and #1322 in 2024.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Colby held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Shea in 14.
Highest recorded here: Colby #222 in 2023, Shea #308 in 1999.
The order changed in 2010: Colby moved ahead. In 2009 they stood at #535 and #481; by 2010 that had become #451 and #560.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Colby #222, Shea #1322.
Northern Ireland · Boys10 shared years, 2006–2024
Colby held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Shea in 10.
Highest recorded here: Colby #192 in 2022, Shea #25 in 2009.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Colby #216, Shea #51.
England and Wales · Girls8 shared years, 1996–2024
Colby held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Shea in 4.
Highest recorded here: Colby #1958 in 1997, Shea #1728 in 2001.
The order changed in 2000: Shea moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #1970 and #2189; by 2000 that had become #3912 and #2746.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Colby #5891, Shea #3015.
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 | Colby | 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 | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Sé, Séaghdha, Shay |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #577 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #125 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Shea has a recorded origin (Irish); Colby does not have one recorded yet.
- Colby has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Shea.
- A meaning is recorded for Shea; Colby doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
- The available evidence gives Colby 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
Colby
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #2683 among girls in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #577 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · 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