Ruby vs Shannon
Ruby 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 Zealand · Girls
In 2001, Ruby was ranked #26 and Shannon #83 among girls in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Ruby was ranked #36 and Shannon #885 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Ruby was ranked #38 and Shannon #407 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Ruby was ranked #41 and Shannon #1743 among girls in England and Wales.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1998, Ruby was ranked #72 and Shannon #50 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2007, Ruby was ranked #4333 and Shannon #3589 among boys in England and Wales.
Ruby and Shannon over time
Ruby and Shannon appear together in 4 published lists, across 99 years of shared records. Ruby held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Shannon in 1.
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.
Shannon reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Ruby 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 England and Wales · Girls, Ruby moved into the top 50 at #31 in 2004 as Shannon fell out of it to #54, having been #35 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2004, Ruby moved ahead of Shannon in England and Wales · Girls — #47 and #35 the year before became #31 and #54.
- Longest-running competitions
Ruby and Shannon were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 33 years, from 1991 to 2025, ending at #36 and #885.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls33 shared years, 1991–2025
Ruby held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Shannon in 14.
Highest recorded here: Ruby #16 in 2013, Shannon #11 in 1995.
The order changed in 2006: Ruby moved ahead. In 2005 they stood at #58 and #56; by 2006 that had become #41 and #49.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ruby #36, Shannon #885.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Ruby held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Shannon in 8.
Highest recorded here: Ruby #1 in 2007, Shannon #11 in 1996.
The order changed in 2004: Ruby moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #47 and #35; by 2004 that had become #31 and #54.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ruby #41, Shannon #1743.
Northern Ireland · Girls27 shared years, 1998–2024
Ruby held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Shannon in 9.
Highest recorded here: Ruby #18 in 2011, Shannon #7 in 1998.
The order changed in 2007: Ruby moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #45 and #38; by 2007 that had become #28 and #40.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ruby #38, Shannon #407.
New Zealand · Girls10 shared years, 1992–2001
Ruby held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Shannon in 7.
Highest recorded here: Ruby #26 in 2001, Shannon #31 in 1993.
The order changed in 1999: Ruby moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #46 and #37; by 1999 that had become #31 and #67.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Ruby #26, Shannon #83.
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 | Ruby | Shannon |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Taken from the gemstone name; the ruby is the traditional July birthstone. As a given name it came into use in the 16th century. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | English, ultimately from Latin rubeus ('red') | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈruːbi/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 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 | New South Wales, Australia · Girls #28 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #885 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Ruby has a recorded origin (English, ultimately from Latin rubeus ('red')); Shannon does not have one recorded yet.
- Ruby and Shannon both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Ruby; 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
Ruby
Popularity journey
First recorded1991
First recorded at #515 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1991 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in England and Wales, in 2007 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #28 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · 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