Reuben vs Shea
Reuben and Sheacompared 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.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Reuben was ranked #33 and Shea #1322 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Reuben was ranked #34 and Shea #51 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Reuben was ranked #38 and Shea #619 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Reuben was ranked #156 and Shea #125 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Reuben and Shea over time
Reuben and Shea appear together in 3 published lists, across 87 years of shared records. Reuben held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Shea in 1.
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.
Shea reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Reuben 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 Northern Ireland · Boys, Reuben moved into the top 50 at #34 in 2024 as Shea fell out of it to #51, having been #32 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2024, Reuben moved ahead of Shea in Northern Ireland · Boys — #32 and #32 the year before became #34 and #51.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Reuben and Shea changed places 7 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1976 and 2025, ending at #156 and #125.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 28 shared years in Northern Ireland · Boys, Reuben and Shea averaged 40.1 places apart, ending at #34 and #51.
- Mirrored each other
Over 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Reuben rose about as far as Shea fell — from #200 and #755 in 1996 to #33 and #1322 in 2024.
- Longest-running competitions
Reuben and Shea were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 30 years, from 1976 to 2025, ending at #156 and #125.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys30 shared years, 1976–2025
Reuben held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Shea in 2.
Highest recorded here: Reuben #125 in 2018, Shea #125 in 2025.
The order changed in 2025: Shea moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #137 and #187; by 2025 that had become #156 and #125.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Reuben #156, Shea #125.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Reuben held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Shea in 0.
Highest recorded here: Reuben #33 in 2024, Shea #308 in 1999.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Reuben #33, Shea #1322.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Reuben held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Shea in 23.
Highest recorded here: Reuben #32 in 2023, Shea #25 in 2007.
The order changed in 2024: Reuben moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #32 and #32; by 2024 that had become #34 and #51.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Reuben #34, Shea #51.
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 | Reuben | Shea |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | The Anglicized form of Séaghdha, occasionally used as a feminine name as well. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Irish |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈʃeɪ/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Sé, Séaghdha, Shay |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #85 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #125 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 95/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Shea has a recorded origin (Irish); Reuben does not have one recorded yet.
- Reuben has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Shea.
- A meaning is recorded for Shea; Reuben doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
- The available evidence gives Reuben a "medium" Data Confidence level and Shea a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Reuben
Popularity journey
First recorded1972
First recorded at #307 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1972 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #32 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2023 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #85 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Shea
Popularity journey
First recorded1976
First recorded at #316 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1976 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #25 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2007 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #125 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys