Namewise

Shea vs Stephen

Shea and Stephencompared 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, Shea was ranked #51 and Stephen #305 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2025, Shea was ranked #125 and Stephen #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

  • Scotland · Boys

    In 2024, Shea was ranked #619 and Stephen #535 among boys in Scotland.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2025, Shea was ranked #1197 and Stephen #716 among boys in England and Wales.

Shea and Stephen over time

Shea and Stephen appear together in 3 published lists, across 89 years of shared records. Stephen 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.

Stephen reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 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.

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.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys31 shared years, 1976–2025

    Shea held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Stephen in 28.

    Highest recorded here: Shea #125 in 2025, Stephen #10 in 1976.

    The order changed in 2023: Shea moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #214 and #205; by 2023 that had become #161 and #224.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Shea #125, Stephen #232.

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

    Shea held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Stephen in 30.

    Highest recorded here: Shea #308 in 1999, Stephen #60 in 1996.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Shea #1197, Stephen #716.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024

    Shea held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Stephen in 5.

    Highest recorded here: Shea #25 in 2007, Stephen #21 in 1998.

    The order changed in 2002: Shea moved ahead. In 2001 they stood at #54 and #46; by 2002 that had become #37 and #54.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Shea #51, Stephen #305.

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.

Other comparisons involving Stephen

Pairs where Stephen 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 — one took the other's place near the top.

All one took the other's place near the top→

Other pairs from Northern Ireland lists

Pairs measured inside Northern 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.

Northern 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 Shea, Stephen
FieldSheaStephen
Record typeEditorially researched profileEditorially researched profile
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningThe Anglicized form of Séaghdha, occasionally used as a feminine name as well.From Greek Stephanos, meaning 'crown, wreath' — literally 'that which surrounds'. Saint Stephen, a deacon stoned to death in the New Testament, is regarded as the first Christian martyr.
OriginIrishGreek
Pronunciation/ˈʃeɪ//ˈstiː.vən/
Syllables12
Common variants / nicknamesSé, Séaghdha, ShaySteven, Stefan, Stephan
Recorded regional usageGB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IEAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Boys #125 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/10090/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10082/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencehighhigh

What the data shows

  • Shea is recorded with a Irish origin, while Stephen is recorded with a Greek origin.
  • Shea has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Stephen.
  • Shea's recorded meaning differs from Stephen's — see the table above for each.
  • Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.

How each name got here

Shea

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1997–2024

    Highest recorded position: #25 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2007 (recorded 1997–2024).

    Northern Ireland · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #1197 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys

Stephen

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1946

    First recorded at #352 among boys in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1952–1997

    Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1955 (recorded 1952–1997).

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #716 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys