Derek vs Sean
Derek and Seancompared 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 1998, Derek was ranked #272 and Sean #16 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1970, Derek was ranked #95 and Sean #49 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Derek was ranked #432 and Sean #141 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Derek was ranked #727 and Sean #234 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Derek was ranked #1108 and Sean #638 among boys in England and Wales.
Derek and Sean over time
Derek and Sean appear together in 3 published lists, across 97 years of shared records. Sean held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Derek in 0.
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.
Derek reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Sean 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 1979, Sean moved ahead of Derek in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #28 and #34 the year before became #31 and #28.
- Longest-running competitions
Derek and Sean were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 60 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #432 and #141.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Derek #464 in 1996, Sean #49 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #30 and #38 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #432 and #141.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys60 shared years, 1964–2025
Derek held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Sean in 45.
Highest recorded here: Derek #22 in 1972, Sean #1 in 1997.
The order changed in 1979: Sean moved ahead. In 1978 they stood at #28 and #34; by 1979 that had become #31 and #28.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Derek #432, Sean #141.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Derek held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sean in 29.
Highest recorded here: Derek #464 in 1996, Sean #49 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Derek #1108, Sean #638.
New Zealand · Boys8 shared years, 1963–1970
Derek held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Sean in 7.
Highest recorded here: Derek #76 in 1966, Sean #38 in 1968.
The order changed in 1964: Sean moved ahead. In 1963 they stood at #79 and #95; by 1964 that had become #82 and #77.
Most recent shared year, 1970: Derek #95, Sean #49.
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 | Derek | Sean |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | The Irish form of John, ultimately carrying the meaning 'Yahweh is gracious' via its Hebrew ancestry. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Irish, Anglicised form of Sean, via Hebrew John |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ʃɔːn/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #432 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #141 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Sean has a recorded origin (Irish, Anglicised form of Sean, via Hebrew John); Derek does not have one recorded yet.
- Derek has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Sean.
- A meaning is recorded for Sean; Derek doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Derek
Popularity journey
First recorded1954
First recorded at #89 among boys in New Zealand in 1954 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #22 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1972 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #432 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Sean
Popularity journey
First recorded1963
First recorded at #82 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1963 — 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: #1 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1997 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #141 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys