Ella vs Shannan
Ella and Shannancompared 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 · Girls
In 2023, Ella was ranked #10 and Shannan #856 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2009, Ella was ranked #13 and Shannan #5556 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2002, Ella was ranked #45 and Shannan #339 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Ella and Shannan over time
Ella and Shannan appear together in 2 published lists, across 24 years of shared records. Ella held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Shannan in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Shannan reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Ella 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 · Girls14 shared years, 1996–2009
Ella held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Shannan in 0.
Highest recorded here: Ella #9 in 2007, Shannan #594 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2009: Ella #13, Shannan #5556.
Republic of Ireland · Girls10 shared years, 1993–2023
Ella held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Shannan in 1.
Highest recorded here: Ella #3 in 2007, Shannan #232 in 1995.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Ella #10, Shannan #856.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Ella
Pairs where Ella shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Ashleigh
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #58 in England and Wales · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #2788.
Ella · Ashleigh · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Courtney
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #52 in England and Wales · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #2278.
Ella · Courtney · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Kate
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #59 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #1079.
Ella · Kate · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Ella | Shannan |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | A diminutive of Eleanor, Ellen and other names beginning with 'El-', also used as a short form of names ending in '-ella'. Widely used across Scandinavian and Germanic languages as well as English. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Germanic, diminutive form | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɛl.ə/ | 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, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #4 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #856 (2023) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Ella has a recorded origin (Germanic, diminutive form); Shannan does not have one recorded yet.
- Ella and Shannan both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Ella; Shannan doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Ella
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #137 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1993–2023
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New Zealand, in 2007 (recorded 1993–2023).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #46 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Shannan
Popularity journey
First recorded1993
First recorded at #320 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1993 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1993–2023
Highest recorded position: #232 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1995 (recorded 1993–2023).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2023
Most recently recorded at #856 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2023.
Republic of Ireland · Girls