Jonah vs Shea
Jonah 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, Jonah was ranked #48 and Shea #51 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Jonah was ranked #223 and Shea #125 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Jonah was ranked #145 and Shea #1322 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Jonah was ranked #209 and Shea #619 among boys in Scotland.
Jonah and Shea over time
Jonah and Shea appear together in 3 published lists, across 81 years of shared records. Shea held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Jonah 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.
Shea reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Jonah 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 2023, Shea moved ahead of Jonah in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #192 and #214 the year before became #177 and #161.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Jonah and Shea changed places 11 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1996 and 2025, ending at #223 and #125.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 28 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Jonah and Shea averaged 47.4 places apart, ending at #223 and #125.
- Mirrored each other
Over 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Jonah rose about as far as Shea fell — from #312 and #755 in 1996 to #145 and #1322 in 2024.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Jonah held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Shea in 1.
Highest recorded here: Jonah #133 in 2022, Shea #308 in 1999.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jonah #145, Shea #1322.
Republic of Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1996–2025
Jonah held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Shea in 14.
Highest recorded here: Jonah #135 in 2018, Shea #125 in 2025.
The order changed in 2023: Shea moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #192 and #214; by 2023 that had become #177 and #161.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jonah #223, Shea #125.
Northern Ireland · Boys24 shared years, 1999–2024
Jonah held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Shea in 22.
Highest recorded here: Jonah #23 in 2021, Shea #25 in 2009.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jonah #48, 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 | Jonah | 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 | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #223 (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); Jonah does not have one recorded yet.
- Jonah has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Shea.
- A meaning is recorded for Shea; Jonah doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
- The available evidence gives Jonah 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
Jonah
Popularity journey
First recorded1992
First recorded at #337 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1992 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1999–2024
Highest recorded position: #23 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2021 (recorded 1999–2024).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #253 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · 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