Namewise

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 2025, Craig was ranked #1705 and Shea #1197 among boys in England and Wales.

Craig and Shea over time

Craig and Shea appear together in 3 published lists, across 75 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.

List by list

  • England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Craig held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Shea in 10.

    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, 2025: Craig #1705, Shea #1197.

  • 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.

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 Craig

Pairs where Craig shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Shea

Pairs where Shea shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — started together, ended far apart.

All started together, ended far apart→

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.

Northern Ireland overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2010s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2010 and 2019.

The 2010s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Craig, Shea
FieldCraigShea
Record typeEditorially researched profileEditorially researched profile
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningFrom 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.
OriginScottish Gaelic (surname origin)Irish
Pronunciation/ˈkɹeɪɡ//ˈʃeɪ/
Syllables11
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedSé, Séaghdha, Shay
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZGB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE
Most recent popularity observationEngland and Wales · Boys #1705 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Boys #125 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/10090/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)94/10095/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediumhigh

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

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1954–1992

    Highest recorded position: #6 among boys in New Zealand, in 1971 (recorded 1954–1992).

    New Zealand · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #1705 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys

Shea

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1997–2024

    Highest recorded position: #25 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2007 (recorded 1997–2024).

    Northern Ireland · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #1197 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys