Donnchadh vs Shea
Donnchadh 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 2023, Donnchadh was ranked #249 and Shea #32 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Donnchadh was ranked #348 and Shea #125 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Donnchadh and Shea over time
Donnchadh and Shea appear together in 2 published lists, across 40 years of shared records. Shea held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Donnchadh 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 2019, Shea moved ahead of Donnchadh in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #269 and #283 the year before became #370 and #199.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Donnchadh and Shea changed places 7 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1976 and 2025, ending at #348 and #125.
- Longest-running competitions
Donnchadh and Shea were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 31 years, from 1976 to 2025, ending at #348 and #125.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys31 shared years, 1976–2025
Donnchadh held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Shea in 24.
Highest recorded here: Donnchadh #212 in 1978, Shea #125 in 2025.
The order changed in 2019: Shea moved ahead. In 2018 they stood at #269 and #283; by 2019 that had become #370 and #199.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Donnchadh #348, Shea #125.
Northern Ireland · Boys9 shared years, 2006–2023
Donnchadh held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Shea in 9.
Highest recorded here: Donnchadh #249 in 2023, Shea #27 in 2006.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Donnchadh #249, Shea #32.
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 | Donnchadh | Shea |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | The Anglicized form of Séaghdha, occasionally used as a feminine name as well. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Irish |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈʃeɪ/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Sé, Séaghdha, Shay |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-NIR, IE | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #348 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #125 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 60/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Shea has a recorded origin (Irish); Donnchadh does not have one recorded yet.
- Donnchadh has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Shea.
- A meaning is recorded for Shea; Donnchadh doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-NIR, IE.
- The available evidence gives Donnchadh 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
Donnchadh
Popularity journey
First recorded1969
First recorded at #270 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1969 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1969–2025
Highest recorded position: #212 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1978 (recorded 1969–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #348 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Shea
Popularity journey
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
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #25 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2007 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #125 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys