Dylan vs Sharan
Dylan and Sharancompared 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.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2016, Dylan was ranked #38 and Sharan #4023 among boys in England and Wales.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2017, Dylan was ranked #1995 and Sharan #3583 among girls in England and Wales.
Dylan and Sharan over time
Dylan and Sharan appear together in 1 published list, across 9 years of shared records. Dylan held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Sharan 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.
Sharan reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Dylan 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.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls9 shared years, 2000–2017
Dylan held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Sharan in 2.
Highest recorded here: Dylan #1516 in 2008, Sharan #2746 in 2000.
The order changed in 2004: Dylan moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #4137 and #3409; by 2004 that had become #2278 and #4598.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Dylan #1995, Sharan #3583.
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 | Dylan | Sharan |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | female |
| Meaning | Traditionally associated with the sea/tide — popularly glossed as 'great tide' or 'born from the sea', reflecting the mythological figure's role. Some scholars theorise the figure may reflect an earlier, otherwise unattested Celtic sea god — treat as a proposed origin, not settled fact. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Welsh | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈdɪlən/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | GB-ENW, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #69 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #3583 (2017) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 60/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Dylan has a recorded origin (Welsh); Sharan does not have one recorded yet.
- Dylan and Sharan both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Dylan; Sharan doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE.
How each name got here
Dylan
Popularity journey
First recorded1969
First recorded at #246 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 recorded1980–2020
Highest recorded position: #7 among boys in New Zealand, in 1992 (recorded 1980–2020).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #69 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Sharan
Popularity journey
First recorded1967
First recorded at #354 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1967 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2017
Most recently recorded at #3583 among girls in England and Wales, in 2017.
England and Wales · Girls