Niamh vs Shannon
Niamh 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.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Niamh was ranked #47 and Shannon #407 among girls in Northern Ireland.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2000, Niamh was ranked #94 and Shannon #62 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Niamh was ranked #90 and Shannon #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Niamh was ranked #208 and Shannon #2138 among girls in England and Wales.
Niamh and Shannon over time
Niamh and Shannon appear together in 3 published lists, across 104 years of shared records. Niamh held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Shannon in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 2 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 2 of those lists, Niamh 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 took the other's place near the top
In England and Wales · Girls, Niamh moved into the top 50 at #48 in 2004 as Shannon fell out of it to #54, having been #35 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2004, Niamh moved ahead of Shannon in England and Wales · Girls — #56 and #35 the year before became #48 and #54.
- Longest-running competitions
Niamh and Shannon were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #208 and #2138.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Girls within 2 years — Niamh #2 in 1993, Shannon #11 in 1995.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1997 they stood at #11 and #2 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2024 they were #47 and #407.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls46 shared years, 1974–2025
Niamh held the stronger position in 46 of those years, Shannon in 0.
Highest recorded here: Niamh #2 in 1993, Shannon #11 in 1995.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Niamh #90, Shannon #885.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Niamh held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Shannon in 8.
Highest recorded here: Niamh #40 in 2000, Shannon #11 in 1996.
The order changed in 2004: Niamh moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #56 and #35; by 2004 that had become #48 and #54.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Niamh #208, Shannon #2138.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Niamh held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Shannon in 2.
Highest recorded here: Niamh #5 in 2005, Shannon #2 in 1997.
The order changed in 1999: Niamh moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #12 and #7; by 1999 that had become #8 and #12.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Niamh #47, Shannon #407.
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 | Niamh | Shannon |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Traditionally interpreted as 'bright' or 'radiant'. In Irish mythology, Niamh was daughter of the sea god Manannán mac Lir, who fell in love with the poet Oisín. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Irish (mythological) | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈnʲiːvˠ/ | |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Neve, Níam | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #90 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #885 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Niamh has a recorded origin (Irish (mythological)); Shannon does not have one recorded yet.
- Niamh has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Shannon.
- A meaning is recorded for Niamh; Shannon doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Niamh a "high" Data Confidence level and Shannon a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Niamh
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #109 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: #2 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1993 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #208 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · 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 #2138 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls