Shea vs Theodore
Shea and Theodorecompared 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 · Boys
In 2024, Shea was ranked #1322 and Theodore #8 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Shea was ranked #51 and Theodore #32 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Shea was ranked #619 and Theodore #36 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Shea was ranked #125 and Theodore #44 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Shea and Theodore over time
Shea and Theodore appear together in 3 published lists, across 70 years of shared records. Shea held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Theodore 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.
Shea reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Theodore 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 Northern Ireland · Boys, Theodore moved into the top 50 at #32 in 2024 as Shea fell out of it to #51, having been #32 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 2024, Theodore moved ahead of Shea in Northern Ireland · Boys — #32 and #47 the year before became #51 and #32.
- Mirrored each other
Over 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Theodore rose about as far as Shea fell — from #755 and #209 in 1996 to #1322 and #8 in 2024.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Shea #125 in 2025, Theodore #44 in 2025.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Shea held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Theodore in 29.
Highest recorded here: Shea #308 in 1999, Theodore #8 in 2022.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Shea #1322, Theodore #8.
Republic of Ireland · Boys24 shared years, 1998–2025
Shea held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Theodore in 10.
Highest recorded here: Shea #125 in 2025, Theodore #44 in 2025.
The order changed in 2017: Theodore moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #150 and #209; by 2017 that had become #179 and #156.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Shea #125, Theodore #44.
Northern Ireland · Boys17 shared years, 2001–2024
Shea held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Theodore in 1.
Highest recorded here: Shea #25 in 2009, Theodore #32 in 2024.
The order changed in 2024: Theodore moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #32 and #47; by 2024 that had become #51 and #32.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Shea #51, Theodore #32.
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 | Shea | Theodore |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | The Anglicized form of Séaghdha, occasionally used as a feminine name as well. | Gift of God. |
| Origin | Irish | Greek |
| Pronunciation | /ˈʃeɪ/ | /ˈθiəˌdɔɹ/ |
| Syllables | 1 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Sé, Séaghdha, Shay | Teddy |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #125 (2025) | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #3 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 76/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | high |
What the data shows
- Shea is recorded with a Irish origin, while Theodore is recorded with a Greek origin.
- Shea has 1 syllable, compared with 3 for Theodore.
- Shea's recorded meaning differs from Theodore'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
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
Theodore
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #214 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded2015–2025
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2024 (recorded 2015–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #3 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys