Craig vs Shea
Craig 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 2015, Craig was ranked #415 and Shea #33 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Craig was ranked #516 and Shea #161 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Craig was ranked #478 and Shea #619 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Craig was ranked #2263 and Shea #1322 among boys in England and Wales.
Craig and Shea over time
Craig and Shea appear together in 3 published lists, across 74 years of shared records. Craig held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Shea in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Craig reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Shea in none. 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 moved ahead of the other
In 1998, Shea moved ahead of Craig in Northern Ireland · Boys — #68 and #70 the year before became #77 and #68.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Craig and Shea changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #2263 and #1322.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1997 they stood at #68 and #70 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 2 places apart; by 2015 they were #415 and #33.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Craig held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Shea in 9.
Highest recorded here: Craig #81 in 1996, Shea #308 in 1999.
The order changed in 2020: Shea moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #1217 and #1253; by 2020 that had become #1492 and #1192.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Craig #2263, Shea #1322.
Republic of Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1976–2023
Craig held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Shea in 10.
Highest recorded here: Craig #40 in 2001, Shea #150 in 2016.
The order changed in 2016: Shea moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #257 and #265; by 2016 that had become #345 and #150.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Craig #516, Shea #161.
Northern Ireland · Boys17 shared years, 1997–2015
Craig held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Shea in 16.
Highest recorded here: Craig #68 in 1997, Shea #25 in 2007.
The order changed in 1998: Shea moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #68 and #70; by 1998 that had become #77 and #68.
Most recent shared year, 2015: Craig #415, Shea #33.
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 | Craig | Shea |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | From the Scottish surname derived from Gaelic 'creag', meaning 'crag, rocks, outcrop' — originally denoting someone who lived near a crag. | The Anglicized form of Séaghdha, occasionally used as a feminine name as well. |
| Origin | Scottish Gaelic (surname origin) | Irish |
| Pronunciation | /ˈkɹeɪɡ/ | /ˈʃeɪ/ |
| Syllables | 1 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Sé, Séaghdha, Shay |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Scotland · Boys #478 (2024) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #125 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 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
- Craig is recorded with a Scottish Gaelic (surname origin) origin, while Shea is recorded with a Irish origin.
- Craig and Shea both have 1 syllable.
- Craig'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 Craig 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
Craig
Popularity journey
First recorded1953
First recorded at #79 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1953 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1992
Highest recorded position: #6 among boys in New Zealand, in 1971 (recorded 1954–1992).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2263 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
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 #125 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys