Laura vs Shannon
Laura 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, Laura was ranked #20 and Shannon #50 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2001, Laura was ranked #37 and Shannon #83 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Laura was ranked #112 and Shannon #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Laura was ranked #253 and Shannon #407 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Laura was ranked #303 and Shannon #2138 among girls in England and Wales.
Laura and Shannon over time
Laura and Shannon appear together in 5 published lists, across 148 years of shared records. Laura held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Shannon in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 4 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 2 of those lists, Laura 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, Laura moved ahead of Shannon in England and Wales · Girls — #106 and #91 the year before became #120 and #151.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Laura and Shannon changed places 9 times in Northern Ireland · Girls between 1997 and 2024, ending at #253 and #407.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 20 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Laura and Shannon averaged 44.0 places apart, ending at #20 and #50.
- Longest-running competitions
Laura and Shannon were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #303 and #2138.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Laura #17 in 1996, Shannon #11 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #17 and #11 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #303 and #2138.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls46 shared years, 1974–2025
Laura held the stronger position in 46 of those years, Shannon in 0.
Highest recorded here: Laura #2 in 1985, Shannon #11 in 1995.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Laura #112, Shannon #885.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Laura held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Shannon in 12.
Highest recorded here: Laura #17 in 1996, Shannon #11 in 1996.
The order changed in 2008: Laura moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #106 and #91; by 2008 that had become #120 and #151.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Laura #303, Shannon #2138.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Laura held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Shannon in 12.
Highest recorded here: Laura #13 in 1997, Shannon #2 in 1997.
The order changed in 2023: Laura moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #243 and #243; by 2023 that had become #237 and #264.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Laura #253, Shannon #407.
New Zealand · Girls24 shared years, 1978–2001
Laura held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Shannon in 4.
Highest recorded here: Laura #8 in 1995, Shannon #31 in 1993.
The order changed in 1982: Laura moved ahead. In 1981 they stood at #50 and #46; by 1982 that had become #57 and #67.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Laura #37, Shannon #83.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls20 shared years, 1976–1998
Laura held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Shannon in 2.
Highest recorded here: Laura #9 in 1994, Shannon #45 in 1993.
The order changed in 1981: Laura moved ahead. In 1980 they stood at #60 and #58; by 1981 that had become #35 and #67.
Most recent shared year, 1998: Laura #20, 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 | Laura | Shannon |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | From Latin 'laurus' meaning 'laurel' — laurel wreaths honoured victors in ancient Rome. Also the subject of 14th-century Italian poet Petrarch's poems. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Latin | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈlɔɹ.ə/ | |
| 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 | Republic of Ireland · Girls #112 (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
- Laura has a recorded origin (Latin); Shannon does not have one recorded yet.
- Laura and Shannon both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Laura; 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
Laura
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #313 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1985 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #303 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