Cole vs Shea
Cole 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, Cole was ranked #125 and Shea #51 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Cole was ranked #66 and Shea #619 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Cole was ranked #185 and Shea #125 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Cole was ranked #169 and Shea #1322 among boys in England and Wales.
Cole and Shea over time
Cole and Shea appear together in 3 published lists, across 81 years of shared records. Shea held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Cole in 1.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Shea reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Cole 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
Cole and Shea changed places 10 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1996 and 2025, ending at #185 and #125.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 28 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Cole and Shea averaged 58.4 places apart, ending at #185 and #125.
- Mirrored each other
Over 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Cole rose about as far as Shea fell — from #427 and #755 in 1996 to #169 and #1322 in 2024.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Cole held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Shea in 0.
Highest recorded here: Cole #125 in 2010, Shea #308 in 1999.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Cole #169, Shea #1322.
Republic of Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1996–2025
Cole held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Shea in 17.
Highest recorded here: Cole #132 in 2020, Shea #125 in 2025.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Cole #185, Shea #125.
Northern Ireland · Boys24 shared years, 2000–2024
Cole held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Shea in 24.
Highest recorded here: Cole #98 in 2017, Shea #25 in 2007.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Cole #125, Shea #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 | Cole | 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, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #185 (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); Cole does not have one recorded yet.
- Cole has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Shea.
- A meaning is recorded for Shea; Cole doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
- The available evidence gives Cole 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
Cole
Popularity journey
First recorded1989
First recorded at #307 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1989 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1998–2009
Highest recorded position: #62 among boys in New Zealand, in 2003 (recorded 1998–2009).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #185 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