Merida vs Siobhán
Merida and Siobháncompared 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.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Merida was ranked #2411 and Siobhán #3015 among girls in England and Wales.
Merida and Siobhán over time
Merida and Siobhán appear together in 1 published list, across 12 years of shared records. Merida held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Siobhán in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Siobhán reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Merida in none. 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.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls12 shared years, 2013–2024
Merida held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Siobhán in 5.
Highest recorded here: Merida #1490 in 2018, Siobhán #1484 in 2013.
The order changed in 2018: Merida moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #2706 and #1817; by 2018 that had become #1490 and #4684.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Merida #2411, Siobhán #3015.
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 | Merida | Siobhán |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Shares the meaning of Joan/Jehanne: commonly interpreted as 'God is gracious'. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Irish |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ʃɪˈvɔːn/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Chevonne, Shivaun |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-SCT | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Scotland · Girls #790 (2024) | Republic of Ireland #90 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 60/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Siobhán has a recorded origin (Irish); Merida does not have one recorded yet.
- Merida has 3 syllables, compared with 1 for Siobhán.
- A meaning is recorded for Siobhán; Merida doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW.
- The available evidence gives Merida a "medium" Data Confidence level and Siobhán a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Merida
Popularity journey
First recorded2013
First recorded at #3536 among girls in England and Wales in 2013 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2411 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls
Siobhán
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #35 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1971 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #90 in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland