Rebecca vs Shannon
Rebecca 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.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1998, Rebecca was ranked #18 and Shannon #50 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 2001, Rebecca was ranked #23 and Shannon #83 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Rebecca was ranked #141 and Shannon #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Rebecca was ranked #315 and Shannon #1743 among girls in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Rebecca was ranked #337 and Shannon #407 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Rebecca and Shannon over time
Rebecca and Shannon appear together in 5 published lists, across 151 years of shared records. Rebecca held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Shannon 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.
Rebecca reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Shannon 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 moved ahead of the other
In 1998, Rebecca moved ahead of Shannon in Northern Ireland · Girls — #3 and #2 the year before became #3 and #7.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 26 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Rebecca and Shannon averaged 46.9 places apart, ending at #23 and #83.
- Longest-running competitions
Rebecca and Shannon were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 46 years, from 1974 to 2025, ending at #141 and #885.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Rebecca #8 in 1996, Shannon #11 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #8 and #11 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2024 they were #315 and #1743.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls46 shared years, 1974–2025
Rebecca held the stronger position in 46 of those years, Shannon in 0.
Highest recorded here: Rebecca #7 in 1995, Shannon #11 in 1995.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Rebecca #141, Shannon #885.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Rebecca held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Shannon in 0.
Highest recorded here: Rebecca #8 in 1996, Shannon #11 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Rebecca #315, Shannon #1743.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Rebecca held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Shannon in 1.
Highest recorded here: Rebecca #2 in 1999, Shannon #2 in 1997.
The order changed in 1998: Rebecca moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #3 and #2; by 1998 that had become #3 and #7.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Rebecca #337, Shannon #407.
New Zealand · Girls26 shared years, 1976–2001
Rebecca held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Shannon in 0.
Highest recorded here: Rebecca #2 in 1977, Shannon #31 in 1993.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Rebecca #23, Shannon #83.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls22 shared years, 1974–1998
Rebecca held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Shannon in 0.
Highest recorded here: Rebecca #1 in 1976, Shannon #45 in 1993.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1998: Rebecca #18, Shannon #50.
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 | Rebecca | Shannon |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Traditionally associated with concepts of 'joining', 'tying', or a 'team/yoke' — a binding or connecting sense, from a Semitic root about fastening things together. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew, via Greek Rhebekka | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /rəˈbɛkə/ | |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #141 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #885 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Rebecca has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew, via Greek Rhebekka); Shannon does not have one recorded yet.
- Rebecca has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Shannon.
- A meaning is recorded for Rebecca; Shannon doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Rebecca
Popularity journey
First recorded1955
First recorded at #440 among girls in Norway in 1955 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1966–2008
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1976 (recorded 1966–2008).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #485 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · 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 #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls