Freya vs Shannon
Freya 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.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Freya was ranked #7 and Shannon #1743 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Freya was ranked #10 and Shannon #407 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Freya was ranked #25 and Shannon #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Freya and Shannon over time
Freya and Shannon appear together in 3 published lists, across 86 years of shared records. Freya held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Shannon 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.
Shannon reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Freya 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 took the other's place near the top
In England and Wales · Girls, Freya moved into the top 50 at #33 in 2004 as Shannon fell out of it to #54, having been #35 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2004, Freya moved ahead of Shannon in England and Wales · Girls — #42 and #35 the year before became #33 and #54.
- Mirrored each other
Over 33 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Freya rose about as far as Shannon fell — from #488 and #386 in 1987 to #25 and #885 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Freya and Shannon were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 33 years, from 1987 to 2025, ending at #25 and #885.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls33 shared years, 1987–2025
Freya held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Shannon in 17.
Highest recorded here: Freya #15 in 2022, Shannon #14 in 1997.
The order changed in 2009: Freya moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #110 and #69; by 2009 that had become #67 and #94.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Freya #25, Shannon #885.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Freya held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Shannon in 8.
Highest recorded here: Freya #5 in 2023, Shannon #11 in 1996.
The order changed in 2004: Freya moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #42 and #35; by 2004 that had become #33 and #54.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Freya #7, Shannon #1743.
Northern Ireland · Girls24 shared years, 1997–2024
Freya held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Shannon in 8.
Highest recorded here: Freya #9 in 2022, Shannon #2 in 1997.
The order changed in 2009: Freya moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #106 and #58; by 2009 that had become #70 and #81.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Freya #10, Shannon #407.
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 | Freya | Shannon |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'lady' or 'noblewoman'. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Old Norse | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈfreɪə/ | |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Freyja, Freja | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Scotland · Girls #1 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #885 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Freya has a recorded origin (Old Norse); Shannon does not have one recorded yet.
- Freya has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Shannon.
- A meaning is recorded for Freya; Shannon doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Freya a "high" Data Confidence level and Shannon a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Freya
Popularity journey
First recorded1987
First recorded at #488 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1987 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded2024–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in Scotland, in 2025 (recorded 2024–2025).
Scotland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #49 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Shannon
Popularity journey
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
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 1997 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls