Gerald vs Seamus
Gerald and Seamuscompared 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 2011, Gerald was ranked #311 and Seamus #245 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Gerald was ranked #770 and Seamus #516 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Gerald was ranked #2269 and Seamus #1538 among boys in England and Wales.
Gerald and Seamus over time
Gerald and Seamus appear together in 2 published lists, across 81 years of shared records. Seamus held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Gerald 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.
Gerald reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Seamus 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 1965, Seamus moved ahead of Gerald in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #57 and #60 the year before became #64 and #58.
- Longest-running competitions
Gerald and Seamus were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #2269 and #1538.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Gerald #680 in 1996, Seamus #470 in 1998.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #57 and #60 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2023 they were #770 and #516.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys51 shared years, 1964–2023
Gerald held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Seamus in 50.
Highest recorded here: Gerald #57 in 1964, Seamus #55 in 1966.
The order changed in 1965: Seamus moved ahead. In 1964 they stood at #57 and #60; by 1965 that had become #64 and #58.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Gerald #770, Seamus #516.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Gerald held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Seamus in 30.
Highest recorded here: Gerald #680 in 1996, Seamus #470 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Gerald #2269, Seamus #1538.
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 | Gerald | Seamus |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | The Anglicized form of Séamus, the Irish form of James — ultimately from Hebrew Ya'akov via Latin Iacomus. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Irish, from Hebrew via James |
| Pronunciation | /ˈʃeɪ.məs/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Séamus |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #2269 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #402 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Seamus has a recorded origin (Irish, from Hebrew via James); Gerald does not have one recorded yet.
- Gerald and Seamus both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Seamus; Gerald doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
- The available evidence gives Gerald a "medium" Data Confidence level and Seamus a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Gerald
Popularity journey
First recorded1955
First recorded at #90 among boys in New Zealand in 1955 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2023
Highest recorded position: #57 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2023).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2269 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Seamus
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #60 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #55 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1966 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1538 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys