Fred vs Shane
Fred 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.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2014, Fred was ranked #398 and Shane #110 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Fred was ranked #676 and Shane #152 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Fred was ranked #567 and Shane #857 among boys in England and Wales.
Fred and Shane over time
Fred and Shane appear together in 2 published lists, across 48 years of shared records. Shane held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Fred in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one 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 2 of those lists, and Fred 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.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Fred held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Shane in 22.
Highest recorded here: Fred #477 in 2008, Shane #74 in 1996.
The order changed in 2020: Fred moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #650 and #642; by 2020 that had become #579 and #921.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Fred #567, Shane #857.
Republic of Ireland · Boys19 shared years, 2003–2025
Fred held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Shane in 19.
Highest recorded here: Fred #334 in 2006, Shane #21 in 2003.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Fred #676, Shane #152.
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 | Fred | 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 | 1 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Seán, Sean, Shaun, Shawn |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #460 (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); Fred does not have one recorded yet.
- Fred has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Shane.
- A meaning is recorded for Shane; Fred doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
- The available evidence gives Fred 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
Fred
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #39 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #39 among boys in Norway, in 1945 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #460 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