Jesse vs Shaun
Jesse and Shauncompared 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 · Boys
In 1999, Jesse was ranked #38 and Shaun #92 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1997, Jesse was ranked #40 and Shaun #96 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Jesse was ranked #54 and Shaun #1162 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2017, Jesse was ranked #132 and Shaun #318 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Jesse was ranked #141 and Shaun #577 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Jesse was ranked #290 and Shaun #727 among boys in Scotland.
Jesse and Shaun over time
Jesse and Shaun appear together in 5 published lists, across 112 years of shared records. Jesse held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Shaun in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 5 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Shaun reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Jesse 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 took the other's place near the top
In New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Jesse moved into the top 50 at #47 in 1990 as Shaun fell out of it to #58, having been #49 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2007, Jesse moved ahead of Shaun in England and Wales · Boys — #205 and #177 the year before became #178 and #184.
- Longest-running competitions
Jesse and Shaun were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 41 years, from 1970 to 2025, ending at #141 and #577.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Boys within 2 years — Jesse #18 in 1990, Shaun #34 in 1988.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys41 shared years, 1970–2025
Jesse held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Shaun in 29.
Highest recorded here: Jesse #133 in 2023, Shaun #81 in 1993.
The order changed in 2013: Jesse moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #500 and #310; by 2013 that had become #271 and #317.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jesse #141, Shaun #577.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Jesse held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Shaun in 11.
Highest recorded here: Jesse #54 in 2024, Shaun #76 in 1996.
The order changed in 2007: Jesse moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #205 and #177; by 2007 that had become #178 and #184.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jesse #54, Shaun #1162.
New Zealand · Boys17 shared years, 1981–1999
Jesse held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Shaun in 6.
Highest recorded here: Jesse #18 in 1990, Shaun #34 in 1988.
The order changed in 1989: Jesse moved ahead. In 1988 they stood at #38 and #34; by 1989 that had become #25 and #42.
Most recent shared year, 1999: Jesse #38, Shaun #92.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys13 shared years, 1985–1997
Jesse held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Shaun in 5.
Highest recorded here: Jesse #30 in 1996, Shaun #48 in 1985.
The order changed in 1990: Jesse moved ahead. In 1989 they stood at #50 and #49; by 1990 that had become #47 and #58.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Jesse #40, Shaun #96.
Northern Ireland · Boys12 shared years, 1997–2017
Jesse held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Shaun in 5.
Highest recorded here: Jesse #132 in 2017, Shaun #121 in 1997.
The order changed in 2014: Jesse moved ahead. In 2013 they stood at #303 and #303; by 2014 that had become #264 and #315.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Jesse #132, Shaun #318.
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 | Shaun |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| 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, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #141 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #577 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Jesse has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Shaun.
- 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
Shaun
Popularity journey
First recorded1965
First recorded at #84 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1965 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1967–1999
Highest recorded position: #34 among boys in New Zealand, in 1988 (recorded 1967–1999).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #577 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys