Raymond vs Sean
Raymond and Seancompared 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 Zealand · Boys
In 1993, Raymond was ranked #100 and Sean #29 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1991, Raymond was ranked #96 and Sean #50 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Raymond was ranked #395 and Sean #52 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Raymond was ranked #509 and Sean #141 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2008, Raymond was ranked #487 and Sean #254 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Raymond was ranked #545 and Sean #638 among boys in England and Wales.
Raymond and Sean over time
Raymond and Sean appear together in 6 published lists, across 195 years of shared records. Sean held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Raymond in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 5 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Raymond reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Sean 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 1967, Sean moved ahead of Raymond in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #40 and #54 the year before became #47 and #29.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Raymond and Sean changed places 11 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1963 and 1993, ending at #100 and #29.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 26 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Raymond and Sean averaged 30.8 places apart, ending at #96 and #50.
- Mirrored each other
Over 29 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Sean rose about as far as Raymond fell — from #49 and #95 in 1963 to #100 and #29 in 1993.
- Longest-running competitions
Raymond and Sean were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 33 years, from 1965 to 2008, ending at #487 and #254.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Raymond #312 in 1996, Sean #49 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1964 they stood at #30 and #38 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #509 and #141.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys61 shared years, 1964–2025
Raymond held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Sean in 56.
Highest recorded here: Raymond #29 in 1969, Sean #1 in 1997.
The order changed in 1970: Sean moved ahead. In 1969 they stood at #29 and #35; by 1970 that had become #34 and #31.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Raymond #509, Sean #141.
Norway · Boys33 shared years, 1965–2008
Raymond held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Sean in 11.
Highest recorded here: Raymond #60 in 1978, Sean #185 in 2007.
The order changed in 1997: Sean moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #257 and #319; by 1997 that had become #349 and #294.
Most recent shared year, 2008: Raymond #487, Sean #254.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Raymond held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Sean in 26.
Highest recorded here: Raymond #312 in 1996, Sean #49 in 1996.
The order changed in 2022: Raymond moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #584 and #412; by 2022 that had become #492 and #577.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Raymond #545, Sean #638.
New Zealand · Boys29 shared years, 1963–1993
Raymond held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Sean in 19.
Highest recorded here: Raymond #49 in 1963, Sean #29 in 1993.
The order changed in 1986: Sean moved ahead. In 1985 they stood at #73 and #75; by 1986 that had become #80 and #77.
Most recent shared year, 1993: Raymond #100, Sean #29.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys26 shared years, 1963–1991
Raymond held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Sean in 22.
Highest recorded here: Raymond #40 in 1966, Sean #29 in 1967.
The order changed in 1967: Sean moved ahead. In 1966 they stood at #40 and #54; by 1967 that had become #47 and #29.
Most recent shared year, 1991: Raymond #96, Sean #50.
Northern Ireland · Boys17 shared years, 1997–2023
Raymond held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Sean in 17.
Highest recorded here: Raymond #143 in 1997, Sean #15 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Raymond #395, Sean #52.
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 | Raymond | Sean |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | The Irish form of John, ultimately carrying the meaning 'Yahweh is gracious' via its Hebrew ancestry. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Irish, Anglicised form of Sean, via Hebrew John |
| Pronunciation | /ʃɔːn/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #509 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #141 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Sean has a recorded origin (Irish, Anglicised form of Sean, via Hebrew John); Raymond does not have one recorded yet.
- Raymond has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Sean.
- A meaning is recorded for Sean; Raymond doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Raymond
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #265 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–1991
Highest recorded position: #17 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1991).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #509 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Sean
Popularity journey
First recorded1963
First recorded at #82 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1963 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1997 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #141 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys