Jessica vs Shannon
Jessica and Shannoncompared 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 · Girls
In 2001, Jessica was ranked #1 and Shannon #83 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1998, Jessica was ranked #2 and Shannon #50 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Jessica was ranked #127 and Shannon #407 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Jessica was ranked #139 and Shannon #2138 among girls in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Jessica was ranked #141 and Shannon #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Jessica and Shannon over time
Jessica and Shannon appear together in 5 published lists, across 149 years of shared records. Jessica held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Shannon in 0.
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.
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.
- One took the other's place near the top
In New Zealand · Girls, Jessica moved into the top 50 at #26 in 1978 as Shannon fell out of it to #64, having been #49 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1977, Jessica moved ahead of Shannon in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #96 and #66 the year before became #69 and #70.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 20 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Jessica and Shannon averaged 57.8 places apart, ending at #2 and #50.
- Mirrored each other
Over 25 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Jessica rose about as far as Shannon fell — from #65 and #49 in 1977 to #1 and #83 in 2001.
- Longest-running competitions
Jessica and Shannon were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #139 and #2138.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Jessica #12 in 1995, Shannon #11 in 1995.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #3 and #11 in England and Wales · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #139 and #2138.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls46 shared years, 1974–2025
Jessica held the stronger position in 41 of those years, Shannon in 5.
Highest recorded here: Jessica #12 in 1995, Shannon #11 in 1995.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jessica #141, Shannon #885.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Jessica held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Shannon in 0.
Highest recorded here: Jessica #1 in 2005, Shannon #11 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jessica #139, Shannon #2138.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Jessica held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Shannon in 5.
Highest recorded here: Jessica #4 in 2008, Shannon #2 in 1997.
The order changed in 2002: Jessica moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #20 and #17; by 2002 that had become #13 and #28.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jessica #127, Shannon #407.
New Zealand · Girls25 shared years, 1977–2001
Jessica held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Shannon in 1.
Highest recorded here: Jessica #1 in 1990, Shannon #31 in 1993.
The order changed in 1978: Jessica moved ahead. In 1977 they stood at #65 and #49; by 1978 that had become #26 and #64.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Jessica #1, Shannon #83.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls20 shared years, 1976–1998
Jessica held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Shannon in 1.
Highest recorded here: Jessica #1 in 1987, Shannon #45 in 1993.
The order changed in 1977: Jessica moved ahead. In 1976 they stood at #96 and #66; by 1977 that had become #69 and #70.
Most recent shared year, 1998: Jessica #2, Shannon #50.
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 | Jessica | Shannon |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Coined by William Shakespeare for his 1596 play The Merchant of Venice, where it belongs to Shylock's daughter — likely based on the biblical name Iscah, also spelled Jescha/Jischa in some translations of Shakespeare's time. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew, via a Shakespearean literary coinage | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈd͡ʒɛs.ɪ.kə/ | |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #139 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #885 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Jessica has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew, via a Shakespearean literary coinage); Shannon does not have one recorded yet.
- Jessica has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Shannon.
- A meaning is recorded for Jessica; Shannon doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Jessica
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #471 among girls in Norway in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in England and Wales, in 2005 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #139 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Shannon
Popularity journey
First recorded1973
First recorded at #69 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1973 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 1997 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2138 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls