Namewise

Ellen vs Siobhán

Ellen and Siobháncompared 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 · Girls

    In 2019, Ellen was ranked #157 and Siobhán #336 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Ellen was ranked #166 and Siobhán #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2024, Ellen was ranked #736 and Siobhán #3015 among girls in England and Wales.

Ellen and Siobhán over time

Ellen and Siobhán appear together in 3 published lists, across 99 years of shared records. Ellen held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Siobhán in 0.

In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.

Siobhán reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Ellen 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.

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.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Ellen and Siobhán were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 57 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #166 and #885.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Ellen #63 in 1996, Siobhán #138 in 1996.

  • Started together, ended far apart

    In 1964 they stood at #27 and #35 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #166 and #885.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls57 shared years, 19642025

    Ellen held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Siobhán in 28.

    Highest recorded here: Ellen #23 in 2002, Siobhán #15 in 1971.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Ellen #166, Siobhán #885.

  • England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 19962024

    Ellen held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Siobhán in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Ellen #63 in 1996, Siobhán #138 in 1996.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Ellen #736, Siobhán #3015.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls13 shared years, 19972019

    Ellen held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Siobhán in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Ellen #21 in 2000, Siobhán #133 in 1997.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2019: Ellen #157, Siobhán #336.

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

Side-by-side comparison of Ellen, Siobhán
FieldEllenSiobhán
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Editorially researched profile
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningNot yet recordedShares the meaning of Joan/Jehanne: commonly interpreted as 'God is gracious'.
OriginNot yet recordedIrish
Pronunciation/ʃɪˈvɔːn/
Syllables21
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedChevonne, Shivaun
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZGB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Girls #166 (2025)Republic of Ireland #90 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recorded90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)94/10082/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediumhigh

What the data shows

  • Siobhán has a recorded origin (Irish); Ellen does not have one recorded yet.
  • Ellen has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Siobhán.
  • A meaning is recorded for Siobhán; Ellen doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
  • The available evidence gives Ellen a "medium" Data Confidence level and Siobhán a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.

How each name got here

Ellen

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1945

    First recorded at #29 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1945–2025

    Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in Norway, in 1955 (recorded 1945–2025).

    Norway · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #208 among girls in Norway, in 2025.

    Norway · Girls

Siobhán

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1964

    First recorded at #35 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1964–2025

    Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1971 (recorded 1964–2025).

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #90 in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.

    Republic of Ireland