Evan vs Shane
Evan and Shanecompared 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 · Boys
In 1987, Evan was ranked #93 and Shane #39 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Evan was ranked #80 and Shane #152 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Evan was ranked #125 and Shane #216 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Evan was ranked #178 and Shane #857 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Evan was ranked #181 and Shane #478 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2011, Evan was ranked #5785 and Shane #5785 among girls in England and Wales.
Evan and Shane over time
Evan and Shane appear together in 3 published lists, across 114 years of shared records. Shane held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Evan in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Shane reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Evan 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 2002, Evan moved ahead of Shane in England and Wales · Boys — #130 and #119 the year before became #129 and #135.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Evan and Shane changed places 13 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2024, ending at #125 and #216.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 28 shared years in Northern Ireland · Boys, Evan and Shane averaged 47.6 places apart, ending at #125 and #216.
- Longest-running competitions
Evan and Shane were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 57 years, from 1969 to 2025, ending at #80 and #152.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys57 shared years, 1969–2025
Evan held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Shane in 38.
Highest recorded here: Evan #23 in 2007, Shane #3 in 1996.
The order changed in 2007: Evan moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #25 and #24; by 2007 that had become #23 and #25.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Evan #80, Shane #152.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Evan held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Shane in 6.
Highest recorded here: Evan #70 in 2009, Shane #74 in 1996.
The order changed in 2002: Evan moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #130 and #119; by 2002 that had become #129 and #135.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Evan #178, Shane #857.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Evan held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Shane in 18.
Highest recorded here: Evan #79 in 2010, Shane #41 in 2002.
The order changed in 2024: Evan moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #181 and #181; by 2024 that had become #125 and #216.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Evan #125, Shane #216.
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
| Field | Evan | Shane |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | An Anglicized form of Seán, ultimately from Hebrew elements meaning 'Yahweh' and 'gracious' — the same root tradition as John. Popularised in America by the 1953 western film Shane. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Hebrew, via Irish Seán |
| Pronunciation | /ˈʃeɪn/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Seán, Sean, Shaun, Shawn |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #80 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #152 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Shane has a recorded origin (Hebrew, via Irish Seán); Evan does not have one recorded yet.
- Evan and Shane both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Shane; Evan doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
- The available evidence gives Evan a "medium" Data Confidence level and Shane a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Evan
Popularity journey
First recorded1969
First recorded at #291 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1969 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1969–2025
Highest recorded position: #23 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2007 (recorded 1969–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #350 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys
Shane
Popularity journey
First recorded1954
First recorded at #72 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1954 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1996 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #152 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys