Holly vs Shannon
Holly 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, Holly was ranked #22 and Shannon #83 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1998, Holly was ranked #53 and Shannon #50 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Holly was ranked #69 and Shannon #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Holly was ranked #105 and Shannon #407 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Holly was ranked #169 and Shannon #2138 among girls in England and Wales.
Holly and Shannon over time
Holly and Shannon appear together in 5 published lists, across 132 years of shared records. Holly 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 5 of those lists, and Holly 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 2000, Holly moved ahead of Shannon in England and Wales · Girls — #23 and #21 the year before became #18 and #23.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Holly and Shannon changed places 5 times in New South Wales, Australia · Girls between 1983 and 1998, ending at #53 and #50.
- Mirrored each other
Over 42 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Holly rose about as far as Shannon fell — from #392 and #497 in 1976 to #69 and #885 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Holly and Shannon were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #169 and #2138.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Girls within 2 years — Holly #16 in 1994, Shannon #31 in 1993.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls42 shared years, 1976–2025
Holly held the stronger position in 31 of those years, Shannon in 11.
Highest recorded here: Holly #11 in 2010, Shannon #11 in 1995.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Holly #69, Shannon #885.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Holly held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Shannon in 4.
Highest recorded here: Holly #12 in 2002, Shannon #11 in 1996.
The order changed in 2000: Holly moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #23 and #21; by 2000 that had become #18 and #23.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Holly #169, Shannon #2138.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Holly held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Shannon in 5.
Highest recorded here: Holly #22 in 2003, Shannon #2 in 1997.
The order changed in 2002: Holly moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #35 and #17; by 2002 that had become #25 and #28.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Holly #105, Shannon #407.
New Zealand · Girls19 shared years, 1983–2001
Holly held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Shannon in 4.
Highest recorded here: Holly #16 in 1994, Shannon #31 in 1993.
The order changed in 1994: Holly moved ahead. In 1993 they stood at #37 and #31; by 1994 that had become #16 and #50.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Holly #22, Shannon #83.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls13 shared years, 1983–1998
Holly held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Shannon in 3.
Highest recorded here: Holly #45 in 1997, Shannon #45 in 1993.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1998: Holly #53, 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.
Side by side
| Field | Holly | Shannon |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | ||
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| 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, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #69 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #885 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Holly and Shannon both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Holly
Popularity journey
First recorded1976
First recorded at #392 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1976 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1976–2025
Highest recorded position: #11 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2010 (recorded 1976–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #169 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · 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 #2138 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls