Darragh vs Shane
Darragh 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, Darragh was ranked #19 and Shane #152 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Darragh was ranked #51 and Shane #216 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Darragh was ranked #218 and Shane #478 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Darragh was ranked #1402 and Shane #857 among boys in England and Wales.
Darragh and Shane over time
Darragh and Shane appear together in 3 published lists, across 118 years of shared records. Shane held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Darragh in 1.
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.
Shane reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Darragh 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 took the other's place near the top
In Northern Ireland · Boys, Darragh moved into the top 50 at #47 in 2004 as Shane fell out of it to #57, having been #45 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2004, Darragh moved ahead of Shane in Northern Ireland · Boys — #59 and #45 the year before became #47 and #57.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 61 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Darragh and Shane averaged 55.8 places apart, ending at #19 and #152.
- Mirrored each other
Over 61 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Darragh rose about as far as Shane fell — from #222 and #65 in 1965 to #19 and #152 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Darragh and Shane were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 61 years, from 1965 to 2025, ending at #19 and #152.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Darragh #522 in 1997, Shane #74 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys61 shared years, 1965–2025
Darragh held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Shane in 38.
Highest recorded here: Darragh #11 in 2019, Shane #3 in 1996.
The order changed in 2003: Darragh moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #24 and #21; by 2003 that had become #15 and #21.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Darragh #19, Shane #152.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Darragh held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Shane in 29.
Highest recorded here: Darragh #522 in 1997, Shane #74 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Darragh #1402, Shane #857.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Darragh held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Shane in 7.
Highest recorded here: Darragh #20 in 2021, Shane #41 in 2002.
The order changed in 2004: Darragh moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #59 and #45; by 2004 that had become #47 and #57.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Darragh #51, 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 | Darragh | 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 #19 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #152 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 74/100 | 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); Darragh does not have one recorded yet.
- Darragh and Shane both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Shane; Darragh doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
- The available evidence gives Darragh 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
Darragh
Popularity journey
First recorded1965
First recorded at #222 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 recorded1965–2025
Highest recorded position: #11 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2019 (recorded 1965–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #19 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