Connor vs Shane
Connor and Shanecompared 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.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1998, Connor was ranked #16 and Shane #90 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1996, Connor was ranked #46 and Shane #83 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Connor was ranked #88 and Shane #478 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Connor was ranked #829 and Shane #152 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Connor was ranked #164 and Shane #216 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Connor was ranked #264 and Shane #857 among boys in England and Wales.
England and Wales · Girls
In 1997, Connor was ranked #3174 and Shane #3824 among girls in England and Wales.
Connor and Shane over time
Connor and Shane appear together in 3 published lists, across 118 years of shared records. Connor held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Shane in 1.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Shane reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Connor 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
Connor and Shane changed places 8 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2024, ending at #164 and #216.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 28 shared years in Northern Ireland · Boys, Connor and Shane averaged 20.0 places apart, ending at #164 and #216.
- Longest-running competitions
Connor and Shane were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 61 years, from 1965 to 2025, ending at #829 and #152.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Connor #11 in 1998, Shane #74 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys61 shared years, 1965–2025
Connor held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Shane in 61.
Highest recorded here: Connor #71 in 1998, Shane #3 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Connor #829, Shane #152.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Connor held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Shane in 0.
Highest recorded here: Connor #11 in 1998, Shane #74 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Connor #264, Shane #857.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Connor held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Shane in 8.
Highest recorded here: Connor #35 in 1998, Shane #41 in 2002.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Connor #164, Shane #216.
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 | Connor | Shane |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | An Anglicized form of Seán, ultimately from Hebrew elements meaning 'Yahweh' and 'gracious' — the same root tradition as John. Popularised in America by the 1953 western film Shane. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Hebrew, via Irish Seán |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈʃeɪn/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Seán, Sean, Shaun, Shawn |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #829 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #152 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Shane has a recorded origin (Hebrew, via Irish Seán); Connor does not have one recorded yet.
- Connor and Shane both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Shane; Connor doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Connor a "medium" Data Confidence level and Shane a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Connor
Popularity journey
First recorded1965
First recorded at #170 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1965 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #11 among boys in England and Wales, in 1998 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Shane
Popularity journey
First recorded1954
First recorded at #72 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1954 — 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: #3 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1996 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #152 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys