Lee vs Shane
Lee and Shanecompared 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 · Boys
In 1985, Lee was ranked #84 and Shane #33 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1987, Lee was ranked #80 and Shane #33 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2018, Lee was ranked #319 and Shane #135 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Lee was ranked #348 and Shane #152 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Lee was ranked #727 and Shane #478 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Lee was ranked #1235 and Shane #857 among boys in England and Wales.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2011, Lee was ranked #5785 and Shane #5785 among girls in England and Wales.
Lee and Shane over time
Lee and Shane appear together in 5 published lists, across 137 years of shared records. Shane held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Lee in 1.
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.
Shane reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Lee 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 1998, Shane moved ahead of Lee in Northern Ireland · Boys — #42 and #45 the year before became #50 and #45.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Lee and Shane changed places 7 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #1235 and #857.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Lee and Shane averaged 57.4 places apart, ending at #1235 and #857.
- Longest-running competitions
Lee and Shane were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 55 years, from 1970 to 2025, ending at #348 and #152.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Lee #64 in 1996, Shane #74 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #64 and #74 in England and Wales · Boys, 10 places apart; by 2024 they were #1235 and #857.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys55 shared years, 1970–2025
Lee held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Shane in 55.
Highest recorded here: Lee #42 in 1998, Shane #3 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Lee #348, Shane #152.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Lee held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Shane in 11.
Highest recorded here: Lee #64 in 1996, Shane #74 in 1996.
The order changed in 2021: Shane moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #781 and #921; by 2021 that had become #888 and #771.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Lee #1235, Shane #857.
Northern Ireland · Boys22 shared years, 1997–2018
Lee held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Shane in 20.
Highest recorded here: Lee #42 in 1997, Shane #41 in 2002.
The order changed in 1998: Shane moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #42 and #45; by 1998 that had become #50 and #45.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Lee #319, Shane #135.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys18 shared years, 1959–1985
Lee held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Shane in 18.
Highest recorded here: Lee #56 in 1980, Shane #15 in 1971.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Lee #84, Shane #33.
New Zealand · Boys13 shared years, 1969–1987
Lee held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Shane in 13.
Highest recorded here: Lee #67 in 1977, Shane #13 in 1969.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1987: Lee #80, Shane #33.
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 | Lee | Shane |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | An Anglicized form of Seán, ultimately from Hebrew elements meaning 'Yahweh' and 'gracious' — the same root tradition as John. Popularised in America by the 1953 western film Shane. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Hebrew, via Irish Seán |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈʃeɪn/ |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Seán, Sean, Shaun, Shawn |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #348 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #152 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Shane has a recorded origin (Hebrew, via Irish Seán); Lee does not have one recorded yet.
- Lee has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Shane.
- A meaning is recorded for Shane; Lee doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Lee a "medium" Data Confidence level and Shane a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Lee
Popularity journey
First recorded1956
First recorded at #94 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1956 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1997–2018
Highest recorded position: #42 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 1997 (recorded 1997–2018).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #348 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Shane
Popularity journey
First recorded1954
First recorded at #72 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1954 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1996 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #152 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys