Namewise

Erin vs Shannon

Erin 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.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2024, Erin was ranked #25 and Shannon #407 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls

    In 1998, Erin was ranked #45 and Shannon #50 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

  • New Zealand · Girls

    In 1995, Erin was ranked #95 and Shannon #45 among girls in New Zealand.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Erin was ranked #71 and Shannon #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2025, Erin was ranked #72 and Shannon #2138 among girls in England and Wales.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2019, Erin was ranked #3411 and Shannon #4702 among boys in England and Wales.

Erin and Shannon over time

Erin and Shannon appear together in 6 published lists, across 155 years of shared records. Erin held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Shannon in 1.

The order between them changed and held in 4 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 4 of those lists, Erin 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 took the other's place near the top

    In England and Wales · Girls, Erin moved into the top 50 at #36 in 2004 as Shannon fell out of it to #54, having been #35 the year before.

  • One moved ahead of the other

    In 2004, Erin moved ahead of Shannon in England and Wales · Girls — #36 and #35 the year before became #36 and #54.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Erin and Shannon changed places 9 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2019, ending at #3411 and #4702.

  • Mirrored each other

    Over 44 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Erin rose about as far as Shannon fell — from #281 and #522 in 1978 to #71 and #885 in 2025.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Erin and Shannon were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #72 and #2138.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Erin #1345 in 1997, Shannon #1168 in 1996.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls44 shared years, 1978–2025

    Erin held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Shannon in 13.

    Highest recorded here: Erin #34 in 2006, Shannon #11 in 1995.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Erin #71, Shannon #885.

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

    Erin held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Shannon in 8.

    Highest recorded here: Erin #27 in 2007, Shannon #11 in 1996.

    The order changed in 2004: Erin moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #36 and #35; by 2004 that had become #36 and #54.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Erin #72, Shannon #2138.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024

    Erin held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Shannon in 4.

    Highest recorded here: Erin #5 in 2009, Shannon #2 in 1997.

    The order changed in 2001: Erin moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #22 and #14; by 2001 that had become #13 and #17.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Erin #25, Shannon #407.

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

    Erin held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Shannon in 1.

    Highest recorded here: Erin #12 in 1983, Shannon #45 in 1993.

    The order changed in 1978: Erin moved ahead. In 1977 they stood at #93 and #70; by 1978 that had become #67 and #85.

    Most recent shared year, 1998: Erin #45, Shannon #50.

  • New Zealand · Girls19 shared years, 1977–1995

    Erin held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Shannon in 12.

    Highest recorded here: Erin #36 in 1984, Shannon #31 in 1993.

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

    Most recent shared year, 1995: Erin #95, Shannon #45.

  • England and Wales · Boys15 shared years, 1996–2019

    Erin held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Shannon in 4.

    Highest recorded here: Erin #1345 in 1997, Shannon #1168 in 1996.

    The order changed in 2019: Erin moved ahead. In 2018 they stood at #4812 and #4812; by 2019 that had become #3411 and #4702.

    Most recent shared year, 2019: Erin #3411, Shannon #4702.

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 Erin

Pairs where Erin 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 took the other's place near the top.

All one took the other's place near the top→

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 Erin, Shannon
FieldErinShannon
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningAn Anglicized form of Éireann, the Irish name for Ireland itself.Not yet recorded
OriginIrishNot yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈɛɹ.ɪn/
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Girls #71 (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

  • Erin has a recorded origin (Irish); Shannon does not have one recorded yet.
  • Erin and Shannon both have 2 syllables.
  • A meaning is recorded for Erin; 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

Erin

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1975

    First recorded at #89 among girls in New Zealand in 1975 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    New Zealand · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1997–2024

    Highest recorded position: #5 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2009 (recorded 1997–2024).

    Northern Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #72 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