Jesse vs Shea
Jesse 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 2024, Jesse was ranked #102 and Shea #51 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Jesse was ranked #54 and Shea #1322 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Jesse was ranked #141 and Shea #125 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Jesse was ranked #290 and Shea #619 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Jesse was ranked #4843 and Shea #3015 among girls in England and Wales.
Jesse and Shea over time
Jesse and Shea appear together in 4 published lists, across 105 years of shared records. Jesse held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Shea in 1.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 of the lists they share.
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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Jesse and Shea changed places 18 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1978 and 2025, ending at #141 and #125.
- Mirrored each other
Over 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Jesse rose about as far as Shea fell — from #198 and #755 in 1996 to #54 and #1322 in 2024.
- Longest-running competitions
Jesse and Shea were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 30 years, from 1978 to 2025, ending at #141 and #125.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Jesse #133 in 2023, Shea #125 in 2025.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys30 shared years, 1978–2025
Jesse held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Shea in 14.
Highest recorded here: Jesse #133 in 2023, Shea #125 in 2025.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jesse #141, Shea #125.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Jesse held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Shea in 0.
Highest recorded here: Jesse #54 in 2024, Shea #308 in 1999.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jesse #54, Shea #1322.
England and Wales · Girls26 shared years, 1996–2024
Jesse held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Shea in 1.
Highest recorded here: Jesse #946 in 1997, Shea #1728 in 2001.
The order changed in 2024: Shea moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #3598 and #5687; by 2024 that had become #4843 and #3015.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jesse #4843, Shea #3015.
Northern Ireland · Boys20 shared years, 1997–2024
Jesse held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Shea in 20.
Highest recorded here: Jesse #102 in 2024, Shea #25 in 2007.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jesse #102, Shea #51.
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 | 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 | Not yet recorded | /ˈʃeɪ/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Sé, Séaghdha, Shay |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #141 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #125 (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 | high |
What the data shows
- Shea has a recorded origin (Irish); Jesse does not have one recorded yet.
- Jesse has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Shea.
- A meaning is recorded for Shea; Jesse doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
- The available evidence gives Jesse 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
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
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 #125 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys