Harrison vs Sean
Harrison and Seancompared 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 South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2007, Harrison was ranked #24 and Sean #85 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2007, Harrison was ranked #38 and Sean #83 among boys in New Zealand.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Harrison was ranked #40 and Sean #234 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Harrison was ranked #89 and Sean #48 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Harrison was ranked #52 and Sean #638 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Harrison was ranked #118 and Sean #141 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Harrison and Sean over time
Harrison and Sean appear together in 5 published lists, across 111 years of shared records. Harrison 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 5 of those lists, and Harrison 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 New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Harrison moved into the top 50 at #50 in 1995 as Sean fell out of it to #53, having been #48 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2000, Harrison moved ahead of Sean in England and Wales · Boys — #62 and #58 the year before became #56 and #60.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Harrison held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Sean in 4.
Highest recorded here: Harrison #30 in 2007, Sean #49 in 1996.
The order changed in 2000: Harrison moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #62 and #58; by 2000 that had become #56 and #60.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Harrison #52, Sean #638.
Republic of Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1999–2025
Harrison held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Sean in 26.
Highest recorded here: Harrison #116 in 2020, Sean #1 in 2003.
The order changed in 2025: Harrison moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #134 and #123; by 2025 that had become #118 and #141.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Harrison #118, Sean #141.
Northern Ireland · Boys26 shared years, 1999–2024
Harrison held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sean in 26.
Highest recorded here: Harrison #74 in 2019, Sean #13 in 2001.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Harrison #89, Sean #48.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys15 shared years, 1992–2007
Harrison held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Sean in 3.
Highest recorded here: Harrison #21 in 2003, Sean #45 in 1992.
The order changed in 1995: Harrison moved ahead. In 1994 they stood at #56 and #48; by 1995 that had become #50 and #53.
Most recent shared year, 2007: Harrison #24, Sean #85.
New Zealand · Boys14 shared years, 1994–2007
Harrison held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Sean in 6.
Highest recorded here: Harrison #31 in 2003, Sean #28 in 1995.
The order changed in 2000: Harrison moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #42 and #31; by 2000 that had become #37 and #52.
Most recent shared year, 2007: Harrison #38, 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.
Side by side
| Field | Harrison | Sean |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | The Irish form of John, ultimately carrying the meaning 'Yahweh is gracious' via its Hebrew ancestry. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Irish, Anglicised form of Sean, via Hebrew John |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ʃɔːn/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #29 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #141 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Sean has a recorded origin (Irish, Anglicised form of Sean, via Hebrew John); Harrison does not have one recorded yet.
- Harrison has 3 syllables, compared with 1 for Sean.
- A meaning is recorded for Sean; Harrison doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Harrison
Popularity journey
First recorded1992
First recorded at #96 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1992 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1992–2025
Highest recorded position: #13 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2017 (recorded 1992–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #29 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · 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 #141 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys