Nathan vs Shaun
Nathan and Shauncompared 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 1997, Nathan was ranked #19 and Shaun #96 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1999, Nathan was ranked #22 and Shaun #92 among boys in New Zealand.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Nathan was ranked #62 and Shaun #727 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Nathan was ranked #71 and Shaun #577 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2017, Nathan was ranked #77 and Shaun #318 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Nathan was ranked #88 and Shaun #1162 among boys in England and Wales.
Nathan and Shaun over time
Nathan and Shaun appear together in 5 published lists, across 161 years of shared records. Nathan held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Shaun in 0.
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.
Shaun reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Nathan 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.
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 1971, Nathan moved ahead of Shaun in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #88 and #62 the year before became #61 and #81.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Nathan and Shaun averaged 45.1 places apart, ending at #19 and #96.
- Mirrored each other
Over 30 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Nathan rose about as far as Shaun fell — from #97 and #56 in 1969 to #22 and #92 in 1999.
- Longest-running competitions
Nathan and Shaun were both ranked in New Zealand · Boys for 30 years, from 1969 to 1999, ending at #22 and #92.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in New South Wales, Australia · Boys within 2 years — Nathan #10 in 1981, Shaun #38 in 1981.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys53 shared years, 1968–2025
Nathan held the stronger position in 33 of those years, Shaun in 20.
Highest recorded here: Nathan #26 in 1999, Shaun #81 in 1993.
The order changed in 1992: Nathan moved ahead. In 1991 they stood at #97 and #85; by 1992 that had become #84 and #94.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Nathan #71, Shaun #577.
New Zealand · Boys30 shared years, 1969–1999
Nathan held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Shaun in 1.
Highest recorded here: Nathan #14 in 1995, Shaun #34 in 1988.
The order changed in 1971: Nathan moved ahead. In 1970 they stood at #97 and #56; by 1971 that had become #63 and #87.
Most recent shared year, 1999: Nathan #22, Shaun #92.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Nathan held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Shaun in 0.
Highest recorded here: Nathan #24 in 2002, Shaun #76 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Nathan #88, Shaun #1162.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys29 shared years, 1969–1997
Nathan held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Shaun in 2.
Highest recorded here: Nathan #10 in 1981, Shaun #38 in 1981.
The order changed in 1971: Nathan moved ahead. In 1970 they stood at #88 and #62; by 1971 that had become #61 and #81.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Nathan #19, Shaun #96.
Northern Ireland · Boys20 shared years, 1997–2017
Nathan held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Shaun in 0.
Highest recorded here: Nathan #15 in 2000, Shaun #121 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Nathan #77, Shaun #318.
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 | Nathan | Shaun |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'he gave' or 'he has given'. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈneɪθən/ | 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #71 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #577 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Nathan has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Shaun does not have one recorded yet.
- Nathan has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Shaun.
- A meaning is recorded for Nathan; Shaun doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Nathan
Popularity journey
First recorded1968
First recorded at #267 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1968 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1969–2018
Highest recorded position: #10 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1981 (recorded 1969–2018).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #344 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys
Shaun
Popularity journey
First recorded1965
First recorded at #84 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1965 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1967–1999
Highest recorded position: #34 among boys in New Zealand, in 1988 (recorded 1967–1999).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #577 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys