Namewise

Emily vs Shannon

Emily and Shannoncompared 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.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls

    In 1998, Emily was ranked #1 and Shannon #50 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2024, Emily was ranked #5 and Shannon #407 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Emily was ranked #6 and Shannon #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • New Zealand · Girls

    In 2001, Emily was ranked #10 and Shannon #83 among girls in New Zealand.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2025, Emily was ranked #44 and Shannon #2138 among girls in England and Wales.

Emily and Shannon over time

Emily and Shannon appear together in 5 published lists, across 149 years of shared records. Emily held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Shannon 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.

Shannon reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Emily 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.

  • One moved ahead of the other

    In 1981, Emily moved ahead of Shannon in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #62 and #58 the year before became #47 and #67.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Emily and Shannon changed places 4 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1976 and 2001, ending at #10 and #83.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 26 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Emily and Shannon averaged 23.9 places apart, ending at #10 and #83.

  • Mirrored each other

    Over 46 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Emily rose about as far as Shannon fell — from #156 and #490 in 1974 to #6 and #885 in 2025.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Emily and Shannon were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #44 and #2138.

  • Started together, ended far apart

    In 1996 they stood at #4 and #11 in England and Wales · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #44 and #2138.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls46 shared years, 1974–2025

    Emily held the stronger position in 42 of those years, Shannon in 4.

    Highest recorded here: Emily #1 in 2011, Shannon #11 in 1995.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Emily #6, Shannon #885.

  • England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Emily held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Shannon in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Emily #1 in 2003, Shannon #11 in 1996.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Emily #44, Shannon #2138.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024

    Emily held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Shannon in 5.

    Highest recorded here: Emily #1 in 2013, Shannon #2 in 1997.

    The order changed in 2002: Emily moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #22 and #17; by 2002 that had become #20 and #28.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Emily #5, Shannon #407.

  • New Zealand · Girls26 shared years, 1976–2001

    Emily held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Shannon in 7.

    Highest recorded here: Emily #8 in 2000, Shannon #31 in 1993.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2001: Emily #10, Shannon #83.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls19 shared years, 1977–1998

    Emily held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Shannon in 2.

    Highest recorded here: Emily #1 in 1998, Shannon #45 in 1993.

    The order changed in 1981: Emily moved ahead. In 1980 they stood at #62 and #58; by 1981 that had become #47 and #67.

    Most recent shared year, 1998: Emily #1, Shannon #50.

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 Emily

Pairs where Emily shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Shannon

Pairs where Shannon shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — started together, ended far apart.

All started together, ended far apart→

Other pairs from England and Wales lists

Pairs measured inside England and Wales's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

England and Wales overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Emily, Shannon
FieldEmilyShannon
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningRival, striving, eager (traditional interpretation of the Latin root).Not yet recorded
OriginLatin, from the Roman family name AemiliaNot yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈɛməli/
Syllables32
Common variants / nicknamesEm, Emmy, Emilie, Amelia, AemiliaNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Girls #6 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Girls #885 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)94/10082/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencehighmedium

What the data shows

  • Emily has a recorded origin (Latin, from the Roman family name Aemilia); Shannon does not have one recorded yet.
  • Emily has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Shannon.
  • A meaning is recorded for Emily; Shannon doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
  • The available evidence gives Emily a "high" Data Confidence level and Shannon a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.

How each name got here

Emily

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1964

    First recorded at #180 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 recorded1996–2025

    Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in England and Wales, in 2003 (recorded 1996–2025).

    England and Wales · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #44 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls

Shannon

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1973

    First recorded at #69 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1973 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1997–2024

    Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 1997 (recorded 1997–2024).

    Northern Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #2138 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls