Julia vs Shannon
Julia 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 South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1998, Julia was ranked #76 and Shannon #50 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2001, Julia was ranked #81 and Shannon #83 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Julia was ranked #118 and Shannon #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Julia was ranked #212 and Shannon #407 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Julia was ranked #223 and Shannon #1743 among girls in England and Wales.
Julia and Shannon over time
Julia and Shannon appear together in 5 published lists, across 141 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Shannon reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Julia 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 2008, Julia moved ahead of Shannon in England and Wales · Girls — #92 and #91 the year before became #85 and #151.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Julia and Shannon changed places 5 times in Northern Ireland · Girls between 1997 and 2024, ending at #212 and #407.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 24 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Julia and Shannon averaged 26.8 places apart, ending at #81 and #83.
- Longest-running competitions
Julia and Shannon were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 46 years, from 1974 to 2025, ending at #118 and #885.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Julia #76 in 1998, Shannon #50 in 1998.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls46 shared years, 1974–2025
Julia held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Shannon in 16.
Highest recorded here: Julia #31 in 2009, Shannon #11 in 1995.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Julia #118, Shannon #885.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Julia held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Shannon in 12.
Highest recorded here: Julia #77 in 2010, Shannon #11 in 1996.
The order changed in 2008: Julia moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #92 and #91; by 2008 that had become #85 and #151.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Julia #223, Shannon #1743.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Julia held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Shannon in 13.
Highest recorded here: Julia #68 in 2011, Shannon #2 in 1997.
The order changed in 2021: Julia moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #281 and #281; by 2021 that had become #190 and #446.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Julia #212, Shannon #407.
New Zealand · Girls24 shared years, 1976–2001
Julia held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Shannon in 17.
Highest recorded here: Julia #26 in 1983, Shannon #31 in 1993.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Julia #81, Shannon #83.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls14 shared years, 1975–1998
Julia held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Shannon in 13.
Highest recorded here: Julia #76 in 1998, Shannon #50 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1998: Julia #76, 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 | Julia | Shannon |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | The feminine form of the Roman family name Julius — borne by Julia Augusta and Julia the Elder, and by an early Christian martyr and patron saint of Corsica. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | The feminine counterpart within the Roman gens Julia, the family name Julius belonged to | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈjʉː.lɪ.a/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 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 | Norway · Girls #85 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #885 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Julia has a recorded origin (The feminine counterpart within the Roman gens Julia, the family name Julius belonged to); Shannon does not have one recorded yet.
- Julia and Shannon both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Julia; 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
Julia
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #345 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1970–2001
Highest recorded position: #26 among girls in New Zealand, in 1983 (recorded 1970–2001).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #85 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · 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 #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls