Namewise

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 2024, Laura was ranked #258 and Shannon #1743 among girls in England and Wales.

Laura and Shannon over time

Laura and Shannon appear together in 5 published lists, across 147 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 Republic of Ireland · Girls for 46 years, from 1974 to 2025, ending at #112 and #885.

  • 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 2024 they were #258 and #1743.

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 · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024

    Laura held the stronger position in 17 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, 2024: Laura #258, Shannon #1743.

  • 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.

Where to go next

Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.

Other comparisons involving Laura

Pairs where Laura shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Shannon

Pairs where Shannon shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — started together, ended far apart.

All started together, ended far apart→

Other pairs from England and Wales lists

Pairs measured inside England and Wales's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

England and Wales overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Laura, Shannon
FieldLauraShannon
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningFrom 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
OriginLatinNot yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈlɔɹ.ə/
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Girls #112 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Girls #885 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)94/10082/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

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

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1964–2025

    Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1985 (recorded 1964–2025).

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #141 among girls in Norway, in 2025.

    Norway · Girls

Shannon

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1997–2024

    Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 1997 (recorded 1997–2024).

    Northern Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.

    Republic of Ireland · Girls