Curtis vs Shane
Curtis 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.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Curtis was ranked #829 and Shane #152 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Curtis was ranked #414 and Shane #177 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Curtis was ranked #432 and Shane #478 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Curtis was ranked #1076 and Shane #857 among boys in England and Wales.
Curtis and Shane over time
Curtis and Shane appear together in 3 published lists, across 77 years of shared records. Shane held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Curtis in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.
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 2000, Shane moved ahead of Curtis in Northern Ireland · Boys — #55 and #60 the year before became #66 and #53.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Curtis and Shane changed places 8 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #1076 and #857.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Curtis and Shane averaged 49.0 places apart, ending at #1076 and #857.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Curtis #78 in 1996, Shane #74 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #78 and #74 in England and Wales · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2024 they were #1076 and #857.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Curtis held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Shane in 21.
Highest recorded here: Curtis #78 in 1996, Shane #74 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Curtis #1076, Shane #857.
Northern Ireland · Boys25 shared years, 1997–2022
Curtis held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Shane in 23.
Highest recorded here: Curtis #44 in 1997, Shane #41 in 2002.
The order changed in 2000: Shane moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #55 and #60; by 2000 that had become #66 and #53.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Curtis #414, Shane #177.
Republic of Ireland · Boys23 shared years, 1990–2025
Curtis held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Shane in 23.
Highest recorded here: Curtis #162 in 1997, Shane #3 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Curtis #829, Shane #152.
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 | Curtis | 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 | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | 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); Curtis does not have one recorded yet.
- Curtis and Shane both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Shane; Curtis doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
- The available evidence gives Curtis 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
Curtis
Popularity journey
First recorded1990
First recorded at #323 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1990 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1997–2022
Highest recorded position: #44 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 1997 (recorded 1997–2022).
Northern Ireland · 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