Namewise

Hannah vs Shannon

Hannah 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.

  • New Zealand · Girls

    In 2001, Hannah was ranked #2 and Shannon #83 among girls in New Zealand.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls

    In 1998, Hannah was ranked #11 and Shannon #50 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Hannah was ranked #21 and Shannon #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2024, Hannah was ranked #57 and Shannon #407 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2025, Hannah was ranked #105 and Shannon #2138 among girls in England and Wales.

Hannah and Shannon over time

Hannah and Shannon appear together in 5 published lists, across 141 years of shared records. Hannah held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Shannon in 0.

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 4 of those lists, and Hannah 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 1987, Hannah moved ahead of Shannon in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #100 and #88 the year before became #41 and #92.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 24 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Hannah and Shannon averaged 36.7 places apart, ending at #2 and #83.

  • Mirrored each other

    Over 46 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Hannah rose about as far as Shannon fell — from #220 and #490 in 1974 to #21 and #885 in 2025.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Hannah and Shannon were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #105 and #2138.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Hannah #6 in 1996, Shannon #11 in 1996.

  • Started together, ended far apart

    In 1996 they stood at #6 and #11 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #105 and #2138.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls46 shared years, 1974–2025

    Hannah held the stronger position in 41 of those years, Shannon in 5.

    Highest recorded here: Hannah #5 in 2019, Shannon #11 in 1995.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Hannah #21, Shannon #885.

  • England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Hannah held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Shannon in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Hannah #6 in 1996, Shannon #11 in 1996.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Hannah #105, Shannon #2138.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024

    Hannah held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Shannon in 1.

    Highest recorded here: Hannah #6 in 1998, Shannon #2 in 1997.

    The order changed in 1998: Hannah moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #8 and #2; by 1998 that had become #6 and #7.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Hannah #57, Shannon #407.

  • New Zealand · Girls24 shared years, 1978–2001

    Hannah held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Shannon in 3.

    Highest recorded here: Hannah #2 in 1996, Shannon #31 in 1993.

    The order changed in 1981: Hannah moved ahead. In 1980 they stood at #59 and #50; by 1981 that had become #42 and #46.

    Most recent shared year, 2001: Hannah #2, Shannon #83.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls13 shared years, 1983–1998

    Hannah held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Shannon in 1.

    Highest recorded here: Hannah #8 in 1997, Shannon #45 in 1993.

    The order changed in 1987: Hannah moved ahead. In 1986 they stood at #100 and #88; by 1987 that had become #41 and #92.

    Most recent shared year, 1998: Hannah #11, Shannon #50.

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 Hannah

Pairs where Hannah shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Shannon

Pairs where Shannon shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — one moved ahead of the other.

All one moved ahead of the other→

Other pairs from Northern Ireland lists

Pairs measured inside Northern 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.

Northern Ireland overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Hannah, Shannon
FieldHannahShannon
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningCommonly interpreted as 'favour' or 'grace', referring to graciousness.Not yet recorded
OriginBiblical HebrewNot yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈhænə/
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Girls #21 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Girls #885 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)88/10082/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Hannah has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Shannon does not have one recorded yet.
  • Hannah and Shannon both have 2 syllables.
  • A meaning is recorded for Hannah; Shannon doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.

How each name got here

Hannah

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1964

    First recorded at #91 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1978–2023

    Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in New Zealand, in 1996 (recorded 1978–2023).

    New Zealand · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #105 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls

Shannon

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1997–2024

    Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 1997 (recorded 1997–2024).

    Northern Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #2138 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls