Neo vs Shea
Neo and Sheacompared 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.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Neo was ranked #404 and Shea #51 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Neo was ranked #770 and Shea #161 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Neo was ranked #478 and Shea #619 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Neo was ranked #545 and Shea #1322 among boys in England and Wales.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2003, Neo was ranked #4373 and Shea #2727 among girls in England and Wales.
Neo and Shea over time
Neo and Shea appear together in 1 published list, across 25 years of shared records. Neo held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Shea 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.
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
Neo and Shea changed places 11 times in England and Wales · Boys between 2000 and 2024, ending at #545 and #1322.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Neo #294 in 2003, Shea #350 in 2003.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys25 shared years, 2000–2024
Neo held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Shea in 8.
Highest recorded here: Neo #294 in 2003, Shea #350 in 2003.
The order changed in 2014: Neo moved ahead. In 2013 they stood at #762 and #684; by 2014 that had become #659 and #935.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Neo #545, Shea #1322.
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 | Neo | Shea |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | The Anglicized form of Séaghdha, occasionally used as a feminine name as well. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Irish |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈʃeɪ/ |
| Syllables | 1 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Sé, Séaghdha, Shay |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Boys #384 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #125 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Shea has a recorded origin (Irish); Neo does not have one recorded yet.
- Neo and Shea both have 1 syllable.
- A meaning is recorded for Shea; Neo doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
- The available evidence gives Neo a "medium" Data Confidence level and Shea a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Neo
Popularity journey
First recorded2000
First recorded at #436 among boys in England and Wales in 2000 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
England and Wales · Boys
Highest recorded2002–2025
Highest recorded position: #206 among boys in Norway, in 2022 (recorded 2002–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #384 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Boys
Shea
Popularity journey
First recorded1976
First recorded at #316 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1976 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #25 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2007 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #125 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys