Dominic vs Sean
Dominic 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 2024, Dominic was ranked #239 and Sean #48 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2007, Dominic was ranked #85 and Sean #83 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2007, Dominic was ranked #84 and Sean #85 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Dominic was ranked #159 and Sean #141 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Dominic was ranked #205 and Sean #615 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Dominic was ranked #234 and Sean #234 among boys in Scotland.
Norway · Boys
In 2022, Dominic was ranked #443 and Sean #496 among boys in Norway.
Dominic and Sean over time
Dominic and Sean appear together in 6 published lists, across 167 years of shared records. Sean held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Dominic 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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 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 2009, Dominic moved ahead of Sean in England and Wales · Boys — #105 and #99 the year before became #111 and #132.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Dominic and Sean changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2025, ending at #205 and #615.
- Longest-running competitions
Dominic and Sean were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #205 and #615.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Dominic #51 in 1996, Sean #49 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #51 and #49 in England and Wales · Boys, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #205 and #615.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Dominic held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sean in 62.
Highest recorded here: Dominic #84 in 1964, Sean #1 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Dominic #159, Sean #141.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Dominic held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Sean in 10.
Highest recorded here: Dominic #51 in 1996, Sean #49 in 1996.
The order changed in 2009: Dominic moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #105 and #99; by 2009 that had become #111 and #132.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Dominic #205, Sean #615.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Dominic held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sean in 28.
Highest recorded here: Dominic #118 in 1997, Sean #13 in 2001.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Dominic #239, Sean #48.
Norway · Boys21 shared years, 1976–2022
Dominic held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Sean in 14.
Highest recorded here: Dominic #283 in 2007, Sean #185 in 2007.
The order changed in 2016: Dominic moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #403 and #327; by 2016 that had become #382 and #417.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Dominic #443, Sean #496.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys17 shared years, 1987–2007
Dominic held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Sean in 15.
Highest recorded here: Dominic #63 in 2005, Sean #45 in 1992.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2007: Dominic #84, Sean #85.
New Zealand · Boys9 shared years, 1998–2007
Dominic held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sean in 9.
Highest recorded here: Dominic #65 in 2002, Sean #34 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2007: Dominic #85, Sean #83.
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 | Dominic | 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 | /ʃɔːn/ | |
| Syllables | 3 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #159 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #141 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 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); Dominic does not have one recorded yet.
- Dominic has 3 syllables, compared with 1 for Sean.
- A meaning is recorded for Sean; Dominic doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Dominic
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #84 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #51 among boys in England and Wales, in 1996 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #205 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · 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 #615 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys