Dylan vs Shay
Dylan and Shaycompared 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, Dylan was ranked #69 and Shay #52 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Dylan was ranked #64 and Shay #389 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Dylan was ranked #104 and Shay #155 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Dylan was ranked #154 and Shay #177 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Dylan was ranked #790 and Shay #790 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Dylan was ranked #1743 and Shay #2115 among girls in England and Wales.
Dylan and Shay over time
Dylan and Shay appear together in 4 published lists, across 121 years of shared records. Dylan held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Shay 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.
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 2025, Shay moved ahead of Dylan in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #39 and #50 the year before became #69 and #52.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Dylan and Shay changed places 11 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #1743 and #2115.
- Longest-running competitions
Dylan and Shay were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 38 years, from 1975 to 2025, ending at #69 and #52.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys38 shared years, 1975–2025
Dylan held the stronger position in 37 of those years, Shay in 1.
Highest recorded here: Dylan #7 in 1998, Shay #39 in 2022.
The order changed in 2025: Shay moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #39 and #50; by 2025 that had become #69 and #52.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Dylan #69, Shay #52.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Dylan held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Shay in 0.
Highest recorded here: Dylan #16 in 2010, Shay #156 in 2006.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Dylan #64, Shay #389.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Dylan held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Shay in 0.
Highest recorded here: Dylan #7 in 2001, Shay #93 in 2009.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Dylan #154, Shay #177.
England and Wales · Girls26 shared years, 1996–2024
Dylan held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Shay in 12.
Highest recorded here: Dylan #1454 in 2021, Shay #1165 in 1998.
The order changed in 2023: Dylan moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #3148 and #1849; by 2023 that had become #1959 and #2689.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Dylan #1743, Shay #2115.
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 | Shay |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| 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 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #69 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #52 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Dylan has a recorded origin (Welsh); Shay does not have one recorded yet.
- Dylan has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Shay.
- A meaning is recorded for Dylan; Shay doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, 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
Shay
Popularity journey
First recorded1972
First recorded at #279 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1972 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1972–2025
Highest recorded position: #39 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2022 (recorded 1972–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #52 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys