Shea vs Shirin
Shea and Shirincompared 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 · Girls
In 2024, Shea was ranked #3015 and Shirin #4843 among girls in England and Wales.
Shea and Shirin over time
Shea and Shirin appear together in 1 published list, across 20 years of shared records. Shea held the stronger position in more years in 1 of them, Shirin 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.
Shea reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 1 of those lists, and Shirin 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Shea and Shirin changed places 11 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2024, ending at #3015 and #4843.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Shea #1728 in 2001, Shirin #1552 in 2003.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls20 shared years, 1996–2024
Shea held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Shirin in 6.
Highest recorded here: Shea #1728 in 2001, Shirin #1552 in 2003.
The order changed in 2018: Shea moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #4763 and #4063; by 2018 that had become #2901 and #5666.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Shea #3015, Shirin #4843.
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 Shea
Pairs where Shea shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Craig vs Shea
In 1997 they stood at #68 and #70 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 2 places apart; by 2015 they were #415 and #33.
Craig · Shea · 17 shared years, 1997–2015 · Started together, ended far apart
- Brendan vs Shea
In 1997 they stood at #73 and #70 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2024 they were #404 and #51.
Brendan · Shea · 28 shared years, 1997–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Darragh vs Shea
Across 28 shared years in Northern Ireland · Boys, Darragh and Shea averaged 13.0 places apart, ending at #51 and #51.
Darragh · Shea · 28 shared years, 1997–2024 · Closest over the longest run
- Freddie vs Shea
In Northern Ireland · Boys, Freddie moved into the top 50 at #17 in 2024 as Shea fell out of it to #51, having been #32 the year before.
Freddie · Shea · 20 shared years, 2005–2024 · One took the other's place near the top
Side by side
| Field | Shea | Shirin |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | female |
| Meaning | The Anglicized form of Séaghdha, occasionally used as a feminine name as well. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Irish | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈʃeɪ/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Sé, Séaghdha, Shay | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | GB-ENW, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #125 (2025) | England and Wales · Girls #4843 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 60/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Shea has a recorded origin (Irish); Shirin does not have one recorded yet.
- Shea has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Shirin.
- A meaning is recorded for Shea; Shirin doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW.
- The available evidence gives Shea a "high" Data Confidence level and Shirin a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
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 #1197 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Shirin
Popularity journey
First recorded1972
First recorded at #491 among girls in Norway in 1972 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1972–2001
Highest recorded position: #414 among girls in Norway, in 1981 (recorded 1972–2001).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #4843 among girls in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Girls