Rioghan vs Shea
Rioghan 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.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Rioghan was ranked #202 and Shea #51 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2014, Rioghan was ranked #550 and Shea #203 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Rioghan was ranked #5119 and Shea #1322 among boys in England and Wales.
Rioghan and Shea over time
Rioghan and Shea appear together in 1 published list, across 8 years of shared records. Shea held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Rioghan 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.
Rioghan reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Shea 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.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys8 shared years, 2000–2014
Rioghan held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Shea in 7.
Highest recorded here: Rioghan #347 in 2000, Shea #187 in 2013.
The order changed in 2007: Shea moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #347 and #390; by 2007 that had become #527 and #220.
Most recent shared year, 2014: Rioghan #550, Shea #203.
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 | Rioghan | 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 | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Northern Ireland · Boys #202 (2024) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #125 (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 | high |
What the data shows
- Shea has a recorded origin (Irish); Rioghan does not have one recorded yet.
- Rioghan has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Shea.
- A meaning is recorded for Shea; Rioghan doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
- The available evidence gives Rioghan 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
Rioghan
Popularity journey
First recorded2000
First recorded at #347 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 2000 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded2004–2024
Highest recorded position: #202 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2024 (recorded 2004–2024).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #202 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2024.
Northern Ireland · 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