Lennon vs Shay
Lennon and Shaycompared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Lennon was ranked #262 and Shay #52 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Lennon was ranked #352 and Shay #155 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Lennon was ranked #339 and Shay #177 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Lennon was ranked #272 and Shay #529 among boys in England and Wales.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Lennon was ranked #1584 and Shay #4867 among girls in England and Wales.
Lennon and Shay over time
Lennon and Shay appear together in 4 published lists, across 91 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Lennon reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Shay 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Lennon and Shay changed places 9 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2025, ending at #272 and #529.
- Longest-running competitions
Lennon and Shay were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #272 and #529.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Lennon #153 in 2006, Shay #156 in 2006.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Lennon held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Shay in 14.
Highest recorded here: Lennon #153 in 2006, Shay #156 in 2006.
The order changed in 2016: Lennon moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #271 and #262; by 2016 that had become #268 and #344.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Lennon #272, Shay #529.
Republic of Ireland · Boys26 shared years, 2000–2025
Lennon held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Shay in 25.
Highest recorded here: Lennon #180 in 2007, Shay #39 in 2022.
The order changed in 2001: Shay moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #206 and #274; by 2001 that had become #246 and #209.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Lennon #262, Shay #52.
Northern Ireland · Boys22 shared years, 2000–2024
Lennon held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Shay in 22.
Highest recorded here: Lennon #182 in 2008, Shay #93 in 2009.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Lennon #339, Shay #177.
England and Wales · Girls13 shared years, 2013–2025
Lennon held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Shay in 6.
Highest recorded here: Lennon #1102 in 2021, Shay #1371 in 2017.
The order changed in 2021: Lennon moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #1773 and #1687; by 2021 that had become #1102 and #2711.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Lennon #1584, Shay #4867.
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 | Lennon | Shay |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #262 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #52 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Lennon has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Shay.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
Lennon
Popularity journey
First recorded1981
First recorded at #260 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1981 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2025
Highest recorded position: #153 among boys in England and Wales, in 2006 (recorded 1996–2025).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1584 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Shay
Popularity journey
First recorded1972
First recorded at #279 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1972 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1972–2025
Highest recorded position: #39 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2022 (recorded 1972–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #4867 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls