Levi vs Shay
Levi 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, Levi was ranked #83 and Shay #52 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Levi was ranked #84 and Shay #177 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Levi was ranked #109 and Shay #389 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Levi was ranked #130 and Shay #155 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Levi was ranked #3318 and Shay #2115 among girls in England and Wales.
Levi and Shay over time
Levi and Shay appear together in 4 published lists, across 109 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.
Shay reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Levi 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 2018, Levi moved ahead of Shay in Northern Ireland · Boys — #157 and #140 the year before became #121 and #171.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Levi held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Shay in 0.
Highest recorded here: Levi #109 in 2024, Shay #156 in 2006.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Levi #109, Shay #389.
England and Wales · Girls28 shared years, 1996–2024
Levi held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Shay in 10.
Highest recorded here: Levi #473 in 1996, Shay #1107 in 1999.
The order changed in 2020: Shay moved ahead. In 2019 they stood at #2286 and #3541; by 2020 that had become #3899 and #1687.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Levi #3318, Shay #2115.
Republic of Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1996–2025
Levi held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Shay in 25.
Highest recorded here: Levi #83 in 2025, Shay #39 in 2022.
The order changed in 2000: Shay moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #241 and #266; by 2000 that had become #390 and #274.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Levi #83, Shay #52.
Northern Ireland · Boys25 shared years, 1999–2024
Levi held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Shay in 16.
Highest recorded here: Levi #63 in 2023, Shay #93 in 2009.
The order changed in 2018: Levi moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #157 and #140; by 2018 that had become #121 and #171.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Levi #84, Shay #177.
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 | Levi | Shay |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Possibly means 'joined' or 'attached' in Hebrew, referencing Levi (third son of Jacob and Leah) as ancestor of the Levite priestly tribe. Behind the Name flags the etymology itself as uncertain. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈliːvaɪ/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #8 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #52 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Levi has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Shay does not have one recorded yet.
- Levi has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Shay.
- A meaning is recorded for Levi; Shay doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
Levi
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #332 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded2004–2025
Highest recorded position: #8 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025 (recorded 2004–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #8 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
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 #52 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys