Jane vs Shannon
Jane 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 1988, Jane was ranked #96 and Shannon #67 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1983, Jane was ranked #81 and Shannon #88 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Jane was ranked #213 and Shannon #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Jane was ranked #288 and Shannon #407 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Jane was ranked #1160 and Shannon #1743 among girls in England and Wales.
Jane and Shannon over time
Jane and Shannon appear together in 5 published lists, across 124 years of shared records. Shannon held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Jane in 2.
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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 of the lists they share.
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 1980, Shannon moved ahead of Jane in New Zealand · Girls — #56 and #60 the year before became #52 and #50.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Jane and Shannon changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #1160 and #1743.
- Longest-running competitions
Jane and Shannon were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 46 years, from 1974 to 2025, ending at #213 and #885.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Jane #316 in 1996, Shannon #11 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls46 shared years, 1974–2025
Jane held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Shannon in 19.
Highest recorded here: Jane #62 in 1997, Shannon #11 in 1995.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jane #213, Shannon #885.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Jane held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Shannon in 24.
Highest recorded here: Jane #316 in 1996, Shannon #11 in 1996.
The order changed in 2022: Jane moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #2341 and #1505; by 2022 that had become #1023 and #1948.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jane #1160, Shannon #1743.
Northern Ireland · Girls27 shared years, 1997–2024
Jane held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Shannon in 23.
Highest recorded here: Jane #80 in 2000, Shannon #2 in 1997.
The order changed in 2024: Jane moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #328 and #264; by 2024 that had become #288 and #407.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jane #288, Shannon #407.
New Zealand · Girls12 shared years, 1976–1988
Jane held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Shannon in 8.
Highest recorded here: Jane #44 in 1977, Shannon #46 in 1981.
The order changed in 1980: Shannon moved ahead. In 1979 they stood at #56 and #60; by 1980 that had become #52 and #50.
Most recent shared year, 1988: Jane #96, Shannon #67.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls10 shared years, 1974–1983
Jane held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Shannon in 2.
Highest recorded here: Jane #46 in 1974, Shannon #58 in 1980.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1983: Jane #81, Shannon #88.
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 | Jane | 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 | Not yet recorded | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #213 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #885 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Jane 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
Jane
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #246 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1952–1984
Highest recorded position: #25 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1966 (recorded 1952–1984).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #213 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · 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