Raymond vs Shane
Raymond and Shanecompared 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 1991, Raymond was ranked #96 and Shane #60 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1993, Raymond was ranked #100 and Shane #69 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Raymond was ranked #509 and Shane #152 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Raymond was ranked #395 and Shane #181 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Raymond was ranked #545 and Shane #857 among boys in England and Wales.
Raymond and Shane over time
Raymond and Shane appear together in 5 published lists, across 179 years of shared records. Shane held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Raymond in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 4 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 Shane 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 took the other's place near the top
In New Zealand · Boys, Shane moved into the top 50 at #31 in 1962 as Raymond fell out of it to #53, having been #44 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1963, Shane moved ahead of Raymond in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #39 and #42 the year before became #45 and #33.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 35 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Raymond and Shane averaged 40.6 places apart, ending at #96 and #60.
- Longest-running competitions
Raymond and Shane were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 35 years, from 1954 to 1991, ending at #96 and #60.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Raymond #312 in 1996, Shane #74 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys61 shared years, 1964–2025
Raymond held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Shane in 53.
Highest recorded here: Raymond #29 in 1969, Shane #3 in 1996.
The order changed in 1972: Shane moved ahead. In 1971 they stood at #39 and #48; by 1972 that had become #34 and #31.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Raymond #509, Shane #152.
New Zealand · Boys37 shared years, 1955–1993
Raymond held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Shane in 30.
Highest recorded here: Raymond #28 in 1955, Shane #12 in 1968.
The order changed in 1962: Shane moved ahead. In 1961 they stood at #44 and #47; by 1962 that had become #53 and #31.
Most recent shared year, 1993: Raymond #100, Shane #69.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys35 shared years, 1954–1991
Raymond held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Shane in 26.
Highest recorded here: Raymond #24 in 1954, Shane #15 in 1971.
The order changed in 1963: Shane moved ahead. In 1962 they stood at #39 and #42; by 1963 that had become #45 and #33.
Most recent shared year, 1991: Raymond #96, Shane #60.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Raymond held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Shane in 21.
Highest recorded here: Raymond #312 in 1996, Shane #74 in 1996.
The order changed in 2017: Raymond moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #616 and #493; by 2017 that had become #613 and #661.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Raymond #545, Shane #857.
Northern Ireland · Boys17 shared years, 1997–2023
Raymond held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Shane in 17.
Highest recorded here: Raymond #143 in 1997, Shane #41 in 2002.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Raymond #395, Shane #181.
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 | Shane |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | An Anglicized form of Seán, ultimately from Hebrew elements meaning 'Yahweh' and 'gracious' — the same root tradition as John. Popularised in America by the 1953 western film Shane. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Hebrew, via Irish Seán |
| Pronunciation | /ˈʃeɪn/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Seán, Sean, Shaun, Shawn |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #509 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #152 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 94/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Shane has a recorded origin (Hebrew, via Irish Seán); Raymond does not have one recorded yet.
- Raymond and Shane both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Shane; Raymond doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Raymond a "medium" Data Confidence level and Shane a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
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
Shane
Popularity journey
First recorded1954
First recorded at #72 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1954 — 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: #3 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1996 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #152 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys