Conan vs Shea
Conan and Shea compared 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, Conan was ranked #24 and Shea #51 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Conan was ranked #232 and Shea #125 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Conan was ranked #352 and Shea #619 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Conan was ranked #1226 and Shea #1197 among boys in England and Wales.
Conan and Shea over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Conan and Shea over time
Conan and Shea appear together in 3 published lists, across 89 years of shared records. Shea held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Conan 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.
Conan reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Shea 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 took the other's place near the top
In Northern Ireland · Boys, Conan moved into the top 50 at #24 in 2024 as Shea fell out of it to #51, having been #32 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2024, Conan moved ahead of Shea in Northern Ireland · Boys — #58 and #32 the year before became #24 and #51.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Conan and Shea changed places 11 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1976 and 2025, ending at #232 and #125.
- Longest-running competitions
Conan and Shea were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1226 and #1197.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Conan #924 in 1998, Shea #308 in 1999.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys31 shared years, 1976–2025
Conan held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Shea in 19.
Highest recorded here: Conan #192 in 2004, Shea #125 in 2025.
The order changed in 2021: Shea moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #226 and #240; by 2021 that had become #296 and #215.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Conan #232, Shea #125.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Conan held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Shea in 27.
Highest recorded here: Conan #924 in 1998, Shea #308 in 1999.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Conan #1226, Shea #1197.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Conan held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Shea in 27.
Highest recorded here: Conan #24 in 2024, Shea #25 in 2007.
The order changed in 2024: Conan moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #58 and #32; by 2024 that had become #24 and #51.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Conan #24, 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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Conan
Pairs where Conan shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Henry vs Conan
Henry and Conan changed places 15 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2024, ending at #45 and #24.
Henry · Conan · 28 shared years, 1997–2024 · Repeatedly exchanged positions
- Conor vs Conan
In Northern Ireland · Boys, Conan moved into the top 50 at #24 in 2024 as Conor fell out of it to #51, having been #38 the year before.
Conor · Conan · 28 shared years, 1997–2024 · One took the other's place near the top
- Darragh vs Conan
In Northern Ireland · Boys, Conan moved into the top 50 at #24 in 2024 as Darragh fell out of it to #51, having been #36 the year before.
Darragh · Conan · 28 shared years, 1997–2024 · One took the other's place near the top
- Ethan vs Conan
In Northern Ireland · Boys, Conan moved into the top 50 at #24 in 2024 as Ethan fell out of it to #57, having been #19 the year before.
Ethan · Conan · 28 shared years, 1997–2024 · One took the other's place near the top
Other comparisons involving Shea
Pairs where Shea shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Craig vs Shea
In 1997 they stood at #68 and #70 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 2 places apart; by 2015 they were #415 and #33.
Craig · Shea · 17 shared years, 1997–2015 · Started together, ended far apart
- Brendan vs Shea
In 1997 they stood at #73 and #70 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2024 they were #404 and #51.
Brendan · Shea · 28 shared years, 1997–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Darragh vs Shea
Across 28 shared years in Northern Ireland · Boys, Darragh and Shea averaged 13.0 places apart, ending at #51 and #51.
Darragh · Shea · 28 shared years, 1997–2024 · Closest over the longest run
- Freddie vs Shea
In Northern Ireland · Boys, Freddie moved into the top 50 at #17 in 2024 as Shea fell out of it to #51, having been #32 the year before.
Freddie · Shea · 20 shared years, 2005–2024 · One took the other's place near the top
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — one took the other's place near the top.
- Sean vs Adam
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Adam moved into the top 50 at #9 in 2018 as Sean fell out of it to #74, having been #5 the year before.
Sean · Adam · 61 shared years, 1965–2025 · One took the other's place near the top
- Charlie vs Oisin
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Charlie moved into the top 50 at #10 in 2018 as Oisin fell out of it to #247, having been #11 the year before.
Charlie · Oisin · 33 shared years, 1983–2025 · One took the other's place near the top
- Sean vs Charlie
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Charlie moved into the top 50 at #10 in 2018 as Sean fell out of it to #74, having been #5 the year before.
Sean · Charlie · 33 shared years, 1983–2025 · One took the other's place near the top
- Sean vs Liam
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Liam moved into the top 50 at #11 in 2018 as Sean fell out of it to #74, having been #5 the year before.
Sean · Liam · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · One took the other's place near the top
Other pairs from Northern Ireland lists
Pairs measured inside Northern Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- Charlotte vs Jodie
In 1997 they stood at #72 and #77 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2021 they were #13 and #446.
Charlotte · Jodie · 23 shared years, 1997–2021 · Started together, ended far apart
- Emily vs Rachael
In 1997 they stood at #32 and #25 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2017 they were #1 and #432.
Emily · Rachael · 19 shared years, 1997–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Fiona
In 1997 they stood at #57 and #66 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2017 they were #2 and #432.
Grace · Fiona · 18 shared years, 1997–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
- Oliver vs Colin
In 1997 they stood at #100 and #96 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2021 they were #5 and #433.
Oliver · Colin · 21 shared years, 1997–2021 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Conan | Shea |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Combines the Irish 'cú' (wolf, hound) with a diminutive suffix, giving 'little wolf' or 'little hound'. Borne by several early Irish saints and a companion of Fionn mac Cumhaill in legend. | The Anglicized form of Séaghdha, occasionally used as a feminine name as well. |
| Origin | Irish | Irish |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈʃeɪ/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Sé, Séaghdha, Shay |
| Recorded regional usage | England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland | England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #125 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Both Conan and Shea share a recorded Irish origin.
- Conan has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Shea.
- Conan's recorded meaning differs from Shea's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
- The available evidence gives Conan 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
Conan
Popularity journey
First recorded1967
First recorded at #245 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1967 — 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: #24 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2024 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1226 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · 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 #1197 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys