Jason vs Shane
Jason and Shanecompared 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 1996, Jason was ranked #42 and Shane #83 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1998, Jason was ranked #57 and Shane #90 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Jason was ranked #135 and Shane #152 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Jason was ranked #197 and Shane #857 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Jason was ranked #199 and Shane #478 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Jason was ranked #305 and Shane #216 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Jason and Shane over time
Jason and Shane appear together in 5 published lists, across 183 years of shared records. Jason held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Shane 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.
Jason reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Shane in 1. 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 1968, Jason moved ahead of Shane in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #26 and #25 the year before became #24 and #30.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 33 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Jason and Shane averaged 20.0 places apart, ending at #42 and #83.
- Longest-running competitions
Jason and Shane were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 33 years, from 1964 to 1996, ending at #42 and #83.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Jason #69 in 1996, Shane #74 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #69 and #74 in England and Wales · Boys, 5 places apart; by 2024 they were #197 and #857.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys61 shared years, 1965–2025
Jason held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Shane in 56.
Highest recorded here: Jason #18 in 1974, Shane #3 in 1996.
The order changed in 2025: Jason moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #162 and #150; by 2025 that had become #135 and #152.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jason #135, Shane #152.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys33 shared years, 1964–1996
Jason held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Shane in 4.
Highest recorded here: Jason #1 in 1971, Shane #15 in 1971.
The order changed in 1968: Jason moved ahead. In 1967 they stood at #26 and #25; by 1968 that had become #24 and #30.
Most recent shared year, 1996: Jason #42, Shane #83.
New Zealand · Boys32 shared years, 1966–1998
Jason held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Shane in 3.
Highest recorded here: Jason #1 in 1970, Shane #12 in 1968.
The order changed in 1969: Jason moved ahead. In 1968 they stood at #19 and #12; by 1969 that had become #6 and #13.
Most recent shared year, 1998: Jason #57, Shane #90.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Jason held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Shane in 0.
Highest recorded here: Jason #69 in 1996, Shane #74 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jason #197, Shane #857.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Jason held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Shane in 23.
Highest recorded here: Jason #36 in 1998, Shane #41 in 2002.
The order changed in 2000: Shane moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #51 and #60; by 2000 that had become #55 and #53.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jason #305, Shane #216.
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 | Jason | Shane |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | From Ancient Greek Iason, meaning 'healer'. In Greek mythology, Jason led the Argonauts in the quest for the Golden Fleece; the name also appears in the New Testament as a Hellenized form possibly of a Hebrew name. | An Anglicized form of Seán, ultimately from Hebrew elements meaning 'Yahweh' and 'gracious' — the same root tradition as John. Popularised in America by the 1953 western film Shane. |
| Origin | Greek | Hebrew, via Irish Seán |
| Pronunciation | /ˈd͡ʒeɪ.sən/ | /ˈʃeɪn/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Seán, Sean, Shaun, Shawn |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #135 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #152 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Jason is recorded with a Greek origin, while Shane is recorded with a Hebrew, via Irish Seán origin.
- Jason and Shane both have 2 syllables.
- Jason's recorded meaning differs from Shane's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Jason a "medium" Data Confidence level and Shane a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Jason
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #100 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2005
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1971 (recorded 1964–2005).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #135 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Shane
Popularity journey
First recorded1954
First recorded at #72 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1954 — 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: #3 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1996 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #152 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys