Finn vs Sean
Finn and Sean compared 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 · Boys
In 2024, Finn was ranked #15 and Sean #48 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Finn was ranked #15 and Sean #141 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Finn was ranked #17 and Sean #234 among boys in Scotland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2007, Finn was ranked #36 and Sean #83 among boys in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Finn was ranked #74 and Sean #615 among boys in England and Wales.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2007, Finn was ranked #87 and Sean #85 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Boys
In 2022, Finn was ranked #167 and Sean #496 among boys in Norway.
Finn and Sean over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Finn and Sean over time
Finn and Sean appear together in 5 published lists, across 156 years of shared records. Finn held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Sean in 2.
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.
Sean reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Finn in 1. 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 Republic of Ireland · Boys, Finn moved into the top 50 at #18 in 2018 as Sean fell out of it to #74, having been #5 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2009, Finn moved ahead of Sean in England and Wales · Boys — #119 and #99 the year before became #126 and #132.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Finn and Sean changed places 12 times in Norway · Boys between 1965 and 2022, ending at #167 and #496.
- Longest-running competitions
Finn and Sean were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #74 and #615.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Boys within 2 years — Finn #36 in 2001, Sean #31 in 1999.
List by list
Norway · Boys47 shared years, 1965–2022
Finn held the stronger position in 36 of those years, Sean in 11.
Highest recorded here: Finn #62 in 1965, Sean #185 in 2007.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Finn #167, Sean #496.
Republic of Ireland · Boys41 shared years, 1982–2025
Finn held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Sean in 33.
Highest recorded here: Finn #6 in 2020, Sean #1 in 1997.
The order changed in 2018: Finn moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #23 and #5; by 2018 that had become #18 and #74.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Finn #15, Sean #141.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Finn held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Sean in 13.
Highest recorded here: Finn #72 in 2021, Sean #49 in 1996.
The order changed in 2009: Finn moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #119 and #99; by 2009 that had become #126 and #132.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Finn #74, Sean #615.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Finn held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Sean in 18.
Highest recorded here: Finn #7 in 2020, Sean #13 in 2001.
The order changed in 2015: Finn moved ahead. In 2014 they stood at #40 and #26; by 2015 that had become #37 and #40.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Finn #15, Sean #48.
New Zealand · Boys10 shared years, 1998–2007
Finn held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Sean in 4.
Highest recorded here: Finn #36 in 2001, Sean #31 in 1999.
The order changed in 2003: Finn moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #67 and #61; by 2003 that had become #52 and #64.
Most recent shared year, 2007: Finn #36, Sean #83.
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 Finn
Pairs where Finn shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Finn vs Arild
In 1945 they stood at #31 and #32 in Norway · Boys, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #153 and #489.
Finn · Arild · 75 shared years, 1945–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Finn vs Aksel
Finn and Aksel were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #153 and #25.
Finn · Aksel · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
- Anders vs Finn
Anders and Finn were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #293 and #153.
Anders · Finn · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
- Andreas vs Finn
Andreas and Finn were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 81 years, from 1945 to 2025, ending at #96 and #153.
Andreas · Finn · 81 shared years, 1945–2025 · Longest-running competitions
Other comparisons involving Sean
Pairs where Sean shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Sean vs Kenneth
In 1964 they stood at #38 and #41 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2024 they were #123 and #785.
Sean · Kenneth · 60 shared years, 1964–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sean vs Henry
In 1996 they stood at #49 and #58 in England and Wales · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #615 and #13.
Sean · Henry · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sean vs Edward
In 1996 they stood at #49 and #45 in England and Wales · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #615 and #31.
Sean · Edward · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- John vs Sean
In 1996 they stood at #46 and #49 in England and Wales · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #174 and #615.
John · Sean · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
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.
- Sean vs Adam
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Adam moved into the top 50 at #9 in 2018 as Sean fell out of it to #74, having been #5 the year before.
Sean · Adam · 61 shared years, 1965–2025 · One took the other's place near the top
- Charlie vs Oisin
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Charlie moved into the top 50 at #10 in 2018 as Oisin fell out of it to #247, having been #11 the year before.
Charlie · Oisin · 33 shared years, 1983–2025 · One took the other's place near the top
- Sean vs Charlie
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Charlie moved into the top 50 at #10 in 2018 as Sean fell out of it to #74, having been #5 the year before.
Sean · Charlie · 33 shared years, 1983–2025 · One took the other's place near the top
- Sean vs Liam
In Republic of Ireland · Boys, Liam moved into the top 50 at #11 in 2018 as Sean fell out of it to #74, having been #5 the year before.
Sean · Liam · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · One took the other's place near the top
Other pairs from Republic of Ireland lists
Pairs measured inside Republic of 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.
- Grace vs Sinead
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #109 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2022 they were #2 and #905.
Grace · Sinead · 58 shared years, 1964–2022 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Therese
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #127 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2015 they were #8 and #896.
Grace · Therese · 51 shared years, 1964–2015 · Started together, ended far apart
- Sarah vs Lorraine
In 1964 they stood at #46 and #47 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2018 they were #21 and #896.
Sarah · Lorraine · 50 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Pamela
In 1964 they stood at #118 and #116 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2017 they were #3 and #873.
Grace · Pamela · 46 shared years, 1964–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Finn | Sean |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Traditionally associated with the Irish hero Fionn mac Cumhaill; functions as the usual Anglicised spelling of the Irish name Fionn. | The Irish form of John, ultimately carrying the meaning 'Yahweh is gracious' via its Hebrew ancestry. |
| Origin | Irish | Irish, Anglicised form of Sean, via Hebrew John |
| Pronunciation | /fɪn/ | /ʃɔːn/ |
| Syllables | 1 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #15 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #141 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Finn is recorded with a Irish origin, while Sean is recorded with a Irish, Anglicised form of Sean, via Hebrew John origin.
- Finn and Sean both have 1 syllable.
- Finn's recorded meaning differs from Sean's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Finn
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #31 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1982–2025
Highest recorded position: #6 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2020 (recorded 1982–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #74 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Sean
Popularity journey
First recorded1963
First recorded at #82 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1963 — 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: #1 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1997 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #615 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys