Keegan vs Shea
Keegan 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, Keegan was ranked #305 and Shea #51 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Keegan was ranked #348 and Shea #125 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Keegan was ranked #478 and Shea #619 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Keegan was ranked #773 and Shea #1322 among boys in England and Wales.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2016, Keegan was ranked #4763 and Shea #3609 among girls in England and Wales.
Keegan and Shea over time
Keegan and Shea appear together in 4 published lists, across 75 years of shared records. Shea held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Keegan 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
Keegan and Shea changed places 4 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #773 and #1322.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Keegan #1802 in 1997, Shea #1823 in 1998.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Keegan held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Shea in 5.
Highest recorded here: Keegan #306 in 2008, Shea #308 in 1999.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Keegan #773, Shea #1322.
Republic of Ireland · Boys19 shared years, 2007–2025
Keegan held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Shea in 16.
Highest recorded here: Keegan #168 in 2020, Shea #125 in 2025.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Keegan #348, Shea #125.
Northern Ireland · Boys16 shared years, 2005–2024
Keegan held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Shea in 16.
Highest recorded here: Keegan #185 in 2019, Shea #25 in 2009.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Keegan #305, Shea #51.
England and Wales · Girls11 shared years, 1996–2016
Keegan held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Shea in 8.
Highest recorded here: Keegan #1802 in 1997, Shea #1823 in 1998.
The order changed in 2016: Shea moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #4012 and #4688; by 2016 that had become #4763 and #3609.
Most recent shared year, 2016: Keegan #4763, Shea #3609.
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 | Keegan | 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 | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #348 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #125 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Shea has a recorded origin (Irish); Keegan does not have one recorded yet.
- Keegan has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Shea.
- A meaning is recorded for Shea; Keegan doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
- The available evidence gives Keegan 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
Keegan
Popularity journey
First recorded1996
First recorded at #2683 among girls in England and Wales in 1996 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2001
Highest recorded position: #70 among boys in New Zealand, in 1997 (recorded 1996–2001).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #348 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