Lucy vs Shannon
Lucy 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.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Lucy was ranked #16 and Shannon #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2001, Lucy was ranked #21 and Shannon #83 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Lucy was ranked #38 and Shannon #407 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1998, Lucy was ranked #44 and Shannon #50 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Lucy was ranked #123 and Shannon #1743 among girls in England and Wales.
Lucy and Shannon over time
Lucy and Shannon appear together in 5 published lists, across 136 years of shared records. Lucy held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Shannon in 1.
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.
Shannon reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Lucy 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 1997, Lucy moved ahead of Shannon in England and Wales · Girls — #15 and #11 the year before became #12 and #16.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Lucy and Shannon changed places 5 times in New Zealand · Girls between 1979 and 2001, ending at #21 and #83.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 21 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Lucy and Shannon averaged 17.1 places apart, ending at #21 and #83.
- Mirrored each other
Over 46 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Lucy rose about as far as Shannon fell — from #198 and #490 in 1974 to #16 and #885 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Lucy and Shannon were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 46 years, from 1974 to 2025, ending at #16 and #885.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Girls within 2 years — Lucy #40 in 1992, Shannon #45 in 1993.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #15 and #11 in England and Wales · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2024 they were #123 and #1743.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls46 shared years, 1974–2025
Lucy held the stronger position in 36 of those years, Shannon in 10.
Highest recorded here: Lucy #3 in 2016, Shannon #11 in 1995.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Lucy #16, Shannon #885.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Lucy held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Shannon in 1.
Highest recorded here: Lucy #7 in 2003, Shannon #11 in 1996.
The order changed in 1997: Lucy moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #15 and #11; by 1997 that had become #12 and #16.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Lucy #123, Shannon #1743.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Lucy held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Shannon in 5.
Highest recorded here: Lucy #4 in 2007, Shannon #2 in 1997.
The order changed in 2002: Lucy moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #22 and #17; by 2002 that had become #17 and #28.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Lucy #38, Shannon #407.
New Zealand · Girls21 shared years, 1979–2001
Lucy held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Shannon in 11.
Highest recorded here: Lucy #21 in 1999, Shannon #31 in 1993.
The order changed in 1996: Lucy moved ahead. In 1995 they stood at #47 and #45; by 1996 that had become #32 and #36.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Lucy #21, Shannon #83.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls12 shared years, 1987–1998
Lucy held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Shannon in 0.
Highest recorded here: Lucy #40 in 1992, Shannon #45 in 1993.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1998: Lucy #44, 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 | Lucy | Shannon |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | The English form of Lucia, from Latin 'lux' meaning 'light'. In use since the Middle Ages. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Latin | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈluː.si/ | |
| 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 #16 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #885 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Lucy has a recorded origin (Latin); Shannon does not have one recorded yet.
- Lucy and Shannon both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Lucy; 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
Lucy
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #523 among girls in Norway in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2016 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #32 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · 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 #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls