Jesse vs Sean
Jesse and Seancompared 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 2024, Jesse was ranked #102 and Sean #48 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Jesse was ranked #54 and Sean #638 among boys in England and Wales.
New Zealand · Boys
In 2007, Jesse was ranked #62 and Sean #83 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2007, Jesse was ranked #69 and Sean #85 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Jesse was ranked #141 and Sean #141 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Jesse was ranked #290 and Sean #234 among boys in Scotland.
Jesse and Sean over time
Jesse and Sean appear together in 5 published lists, across 138 years of shared records. Sean held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Jesse 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.
Sean reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Jesse 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 2012, Jesse moved ahead of Sean in England and Wales · Boys — #184 and #178 the year before became #198 and #214.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Jesse and Sean changed places 5 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1981 and 2007, ending at #62 and #83.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 22 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Jesse and Sean averaged 13.9 places apart, ending at #69 and #85.
- Longest-running competitions
Jesse and Sean were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 42 years, from 1970 to 2025, ending at #141 and #141.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys42 shared years, 1970–2025
Jesse held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sean in 41.
Highest recorded here: Jesse #133 in 2023, Sean #1 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jesse #141, Sean #141.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Jesse held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Sean in 16.
Highest recorded here: Jesse #54 in 2024, Sean #49 in 1996.
The order changed in 2012: Jesse moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #184 and #178; by 2012 that had become #198 and #214.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jesse #54, Sean #638.
New Zealand · Boys25 shared years, 1981–2007
Jesse held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Sean in 8.
Highest recorded here: Jesse #18 in 1990, Sean #28 in 1995.
The order changed in 2005: Jesse moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #80 and #71; by 2005 that had become #53 and #57.
Most recent shared year, 2007: Jesse #62, Sean #83.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys22 shared years, 1985–2007
Jesse held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Sean in 7.
Highest recorded here: Jesse #30 in 1996, Sean #42 in 1990.
The order changed in 2003: Jesse moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #72 and #61; by 2003 that had become #64 and #82.
Most recent shared year, 2007: Jesse #69, Sean #85.
Northern Ireland · Boys20 shared years, 1997–2024
Jesse held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sean in 20.
Highest recorded here: Jesse #102 in 2024, Sean #15 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jesse #102, Sean #48.
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 | Jesse | Sean |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | The Irish form of John, ultimately carrying the meaning 'Yahweh is gracious' via its Hebrew ancestry. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Irish, Anglicised form of Sean, via Hebrew John |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ʃɔːn/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| 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, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #141 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #141 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Sean has a recorded origin (Irish, Anglicised form of Sean, via Hebrew John); Jesse does not have one recorded yet.
- Jesse has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Sean.
- A meaning is recorded for Sean; Jesse doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Jesse
Popularity journey
First recorded1970
First recorded at #278 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1970 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1981–2017
Highest recorded position: #18 among boys in New Zealand, in 1990 (recorded 1981–2017).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #141 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Sean
Popularity journey
First recorded1963
First recorded at #82 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1963 — 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: #1 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1997 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #141 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys