Namewise

Shane vs Tadhg

Shane and Tadhgcompared 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.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2025, Shane was ranked #152 and Tadhg #8 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2024, Shane was ranked #216 and Tadhg #99 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • Scotland · Boys

    In 2024, Shane was ranked #478 and Tadhg #307 among boys in Scotland.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2025, Shane was ranked #1153 and Tadhg #412 among boys in England and Wales.

Shane and Tadhg over time

Shane and Tadhg appear together in 3 published lists, across 110 years of shared records. Shane held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Tadhg in 0.

The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.

Shane reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Tadhg 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 moved ahead of the other

    In 2018, Tadhg moved ahead of Shane in Northern Ireland · Boys — #194 and #229 the year before became #135 and #121.

  • Mirrored each other

    Over 59 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Tadhg rose about as far as Shane fell — from #65 and #222 in 1965 to #152 and #8 in 2025.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Shane and Tadhg were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1153 and #412.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys59 shared years, 1965–2025

    Shane held the stronger position in 44 of those years, Tadhg in 15.

    Highest recorded here: Shane #3 in 1996, Tadhg #6 in 2024.

    The order changed in 2011: Tadhg moved ahead. In 2010 they stood at #33 and #40; by 2011 that had become #43 and #38.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Shane #152, Tadhg #8.

  • England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Shane held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Tadhg in 7.

    Highest recorded here: Shane #74 in 1996, Tadhg #406 in 2024.

    The order changed in 2019: Tadhg moved ahead. In 2018 they stood at #619 and #786; by 2019 that had become #642 and #634.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Shane #1153, Tadhg #412.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys21 shared years, 2001–2024

    Shane held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Tadhg in 6.

    Highest recorded here: Shane #45 in 2003, Tadhg #81 in 2023.

    The order changed in 2018: Tadhg moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #194 and #229; by 2018 that had become #135 and #121.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Shane #216, Tadhg #99.

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.

Where to go next

Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.

Other comparisons involving Shane

Pairs where Shane shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Tadhg

Pairs where Tadhg shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — mirrored each other.

All mirrored each other→

Other pairs from Republic of Ireland lists

Pairs measured inside Republic of Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

Republic of Ireland overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Shane, Tadhg
FieldShaneTadhg
Record typeEditorially researched profileEditorially researched profile
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningAn 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.Traditionally interpreted as 'poet'.
OriginHebrew, via Irish SeánIrish
Pronunciation/ˈʃeɪn//ˈtˠəiɡ/
Syllables21
Common variants / nicknamesSeán, Sean, Shaun, ShawnNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZGB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Boys #152 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Boys #8 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/10090/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)94/10094/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencehighmedium

What the data shows

  • Shane is recorded with a Hebrew, via Irish Seán origin, while Tadhg is recorded with a Irish origin.
  • Shane has 2 syllables, compared with 1 for Tadhg.
  • Shane's recorded meaning differs from Tadhg's — see the table above for each.
  • Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
  • The available evidence gives Shane a "high" Data Confidence level and Tadhg a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.

How each name got here

Shane

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1964–2025

    Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1996 (recorded 1964–2025).

    Republic of Ireland · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #1153 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys

Tadhg

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1965

    First recorded at #222 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1965 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Republic of Ireland · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1965–2025

    Highest recorded position: #6 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2024 (recorded 1965–2025).

    Republic of Ireland · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #412 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys