Namewise

Emma vs Shannon

Emma 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 Zealand · Girls

    In 2001, Emma was ranked #3 and Shannon #83 among girls in New Zealand.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls

    In 1998, Emma was ranked #5 and Shannon #50 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Emma was ranked #28 and Shannon #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2024, Emma was ranked #69 and Shannon #1743 among girls in England and Wales.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2024, Emma was ranked #84 and Shannon #407 among girls in Northern Ireland.

Emma and Shannon over time

Emma and Shannon appear together in 5 published lists, across 151 years of shared records. Emma 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 3 of those lists, Emma in 2. 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 1997, Emma moved ahead of Shannon in England and Wales · Girls — #14 and #11 the year before became #13 and #16.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 26 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Emma and Shannon averaged 47.3 places apart, ending at #3 and #83.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Emma and Shannon were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 46 years, from 1974 to 2025, ending at #28 and #885.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Emma #13 in 1997, Shannon #11 in 1996.

  • Started together, ended far apart

    In 1996 they stood at #14 and #11 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2024 they were #69 and #1743.

List by list

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

    Emma held the stronger position in 46 of those years, Shannon in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Emma #1 in 2003, Shannon #11 in 1995.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Emma #28, Shannon #885.

  • England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024

    Emma held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Shannon in 1.

    Highest recorded here: Emma #13 in 1997, Shannon #11 in 1996.

    The order changed in 1997: Emma moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #14 and #11; by 1997 that had become #13 and #16.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Emma #69, Shannon #1743.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024

    Emma held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Shannon in 1.

    Highest recorded here: Emma #1 in 2003, Shannon #2 in 1997.

    The order changed in 1998: Emma moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #4 and #2; by 1998 that had become #2 and #7.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Emma #84, Shannon #407.

  • New Zealand · Girls26 shared years, 1976–2001

    Emma held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Shannon in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Emma #2 in 1988, Shannon #31 in 1993.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2001: Emma #3, Shannon #83.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls22 shared years, 1974–1998

    Emma held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Shannon in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Emma #3 in 1988, Shannon #45 in 1993.

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

    Most recent shared year, 1998: Emma #5, 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 Emma

Pairs where Emma 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 — one moved ahead of the other.

All one moved ahead of the other→

Other pairs from Northern Ireland lists

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

Northern Ireland 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 Emma, Shannon
FieldEmmaShannon
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningA shortened form of Germanic names beginning with the element 'irmin' ('whole, great'), from Proto-Germanic *ermunaz. Introduced to England by Emma of Normandy, wife of King Ethelred II and later King Canute; further popularised by Jane Austen's 1816 novel Emma.Not yet recorded
OriginGermanicNot yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈɛm.ə/
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot 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 observationNorway · Girls #1 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Girls #885 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10082/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Emma has a recorded origin (Germanic); Shannon does not have one recorded yet.
  • Emma and Shannon both have 2 syllables.
  • A meaning is recorded for Emma; Shannon doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.

How each name got here

Emma

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1945

    First recorded at #342 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 recorded1969–2023

    Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New Zealand, in 2003 (recorded 1969–2023).

    New Zealand · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #65 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.

    New South Wales, Australia · 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 #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls