Janet vs Shauna
Janet and Shaunacompared 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 · Girls
In 1999, Janet was ranked #344 and Shauna #58 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2018, Janet was ranked #896 and Shauna #267 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Janet was ranked #3318 and Shauna #4192 among girls in England and Wales.
Janet and Shauna over time
Janet and Shauna appear together in 2 published lists, across 69 years of shared records. Shauna held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Janet in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Janet reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Shauna 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 1983, Shauna moved ahead of Janet in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #157 and #176 the year before became #187 and #135.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Janet and Shauna changed places 7 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #3318 and #4192.
- Longest-running competitions
Janet and Shauna were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 41 years, from 1966 to 2018, ending at #896 and #267.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls41 shared years, 1966–2018
Janet held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Shauna in 24.
Highest recorded here: Janet #86 in 1966, Shauna #6 in 1993.
The order changed in 1983: Shauna moved ahead. In 1982 they stood at #157 and #176; by 1983 that had become #187 and #135.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Janet #896, Shauna #267.
England and Wales · Girls28 shared years, 1996–2024
Janet held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Shauna in 20.
Highest recorded here: Janet #1031 in 1996, Shauna #115 in 2000.
The order changed in 2023: Janet moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #3970 and #3970; by 2023 that had become #2346 and #4709.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Janet #3318, Shauna #4192.
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 | Janet | Shauna |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #3318 (2024) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #885 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Janet and Shauna both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Janet
Popularity journey
First recorded1947
First recorded at #308 among girls in Norway in 1947 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1954–1966
Highest recorded position: #19 among girls in New Zealand, in 1954 (recorded 1954–1966).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #3318 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls
Shauna
Popularity journey
First recorded1966
First recorded at #380 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1966 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1966–2025
Highest recorded position: #6 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1993 (recorded 1966–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls