Jeffrey vs Shea
Jeffrey and Sheacompared 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 · Boys
In 1997, Jeffrey was ranked #248 and Shea #70 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Jeffrey was ranked #770 and Shea #161 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Jeffrey was ranked #1705 and Shea #1197 among boys in England and Wales.
Jeffrey and Shea over time
Jeffrey and Shea appear together in 2 published lists, across 56 years of shared records. Shea held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Jeffrey 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.
Jeffrey reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Shea 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.
- Longest-running competitions
Jeffrey and Shea were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1705 and #1197.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Jeffrey #476 in 1997, Shea #308 in 1999.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Jeffrey held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Shea in 27.
Highest recorded here: Jeffrey #476 in 1997, Shea #308 in 1999.
The order changed in 2020: Shea moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #1083 and #1253; by 2020 that had become #1825 and #1192.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jeffrey #1705, Shea #1197.
Republic of Ireland · Boys26 shared years, 1976–2023
Jeffrey held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Shea in 17.
Highest recorded here: Jeffrey #120 in 1976, Shea #150 in 2016.
The order changed in 2004: Shea moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #275 and #337; by 2004 that had become #283 and #244.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Jeffrey #770, Shea #161.
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 | Jeffrey | Shea |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | The Anglicized form of Séaghdha, occasionally used as a feminine name as well. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Irish |
| Pronunciation | /ˈʃeɪ/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Sé, Séaghdha, Shay |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #1705 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #125 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Shea has a recorded origin (Irish); Jeffrey does not have one recorded yet.
- Jeffrey has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Shea.
- A meaning is recorded for Shea; Jeffrey doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
- The available evidence gives Jeffrey a "medium" Data Confidence level and Shea a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Jeffrey
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #39 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1952–1986
Highest recorded position: #30 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1962 (recorded 1952–1986).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1705 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Shea
Popularity journey
First recorded1976
First recorded at #316 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1976 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #25 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2007 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1197 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys