Niamh vs Shauna
Niamh and Shaunacompared 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 2019, Niamh was ranked #24 and Shauna #424 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Niamh was ranked #90 and Shauna #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Niamh was ranked #208 and Shauna #5927 among girls in England and Wales.
Niamh and Shauna over time
Niamh and Shauna appear together in 3 published lists, across 112 years of shared records. Niamh held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Shauna in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Shauna reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Niamh 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.
- Longest-running competitions
Niamh and Shauna were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 60 years, from 1966 to 2025, ending at #90 and #885.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Niamh #40 in 2000, Shauna #115 in 2000.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls60 shared years, 1966–2025
Niamh held the stronger position in 60 of those years, Shauna in 0.
Highest recorded here: Niamh #2 in 1993, Shauna #6 in 1993.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Niamh #90, Shauna #885.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2025
Niamh held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Shauna in 0.
Highest recorded here: Niamh #40 in 2000, Shauna #115 in 2000.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Niamh #208, Shauna #5927.
Northern Ireland · Girls23 shared years, 1997–2019
Niamh held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Shauna in 0.
Highest recorded here: Niamh #5 in 2005, Shauna #46 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Niamh #24, Shauna #424.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Niamh
Pairs where Niamh shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Niamh vs Jordan
In 1996 they stood at #120 and #126 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #208 and #4201.
Niamh · Jordan · 29 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Niamh vs Janet
In 1964 they stood at #109 and #106 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2018 they were #59 and #896.
Niamh · Janet · 43 shared years, 1964–2018 · Started together, ended far apart
- Niamh vs Pamela
In 1964 they stood at #109 and #116 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2017 they were #47 and #873.
Niamh · Pamela · 46 shared years, 1964–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
- Niamh vs Charlie
In 1996 they stood at #120 and #113 in England and Wales · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #208 and #747.
Niamh · Charlie · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other comparisons involving Shauna
Pairs where Shauna shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Olivia vs Shauna
In 1997 they stood at #46 and #46 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 0 places apart; by 2019 they were #5 and #424.
Olivia · Shauna · 23 shared years, 1997–2019 · Started together, ended far apart
- Lucy vs Shauna
In 1997 they stood at #37 and #46 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2019 they were #14 and #424.
Lucy · Shauna · 23 shared years, 1997–2019 · Started together, ended far apart
- Shauna vs Holly
In 1997 they stood at #46 and #46 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 0 places apart; by 2019 they were #424 and #52.
Shauna · Holly · 23 shared years, 1997–2019 · Started together, ended far apart
- Shauna vs Zoe
In 1997 they stood at #46 and #37 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2019 they were #424 and #62.
Shauna · Zoe · 23 shared years, 1997–2019 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Niamh | Shauna |
|---|---|---|
| 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/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Neve, Níam | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE |
| 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 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Niamh has a recorded origin (Irish (mythological)); Shauna does not have one recorded yet.
- Niamh has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Shauna.
- A meaning is recorded for Niamh; Shauna doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
- The available evidence gives Niamh a "high" Data Confidence level and Shauna 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
Shauna
Popularity journey
First recorded1966
First recorded at #380 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1966 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1966–2025
Highest recorded position: #6 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1993 (recorded 1966–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #5927 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls