Shea vs Tristan
Shea and Tristancompared 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 Tristan #339 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Shea was ranked #125 and Tristan #317 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Shea was ranked #619 and Tristan #209 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Shea was ranked #1197 and Tristan #273 among boys in England and Wales.
Shea and Tristan over time
Shea and Tristan appear together in 3 published lists, across 88 years of shared records. Tristan held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Shea in 1.
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.
Tristan reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Shea in 1. 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 Tristan changed places 5 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1978 and 2025, ending at #125 and #317.
- Mirrored each other
Over 30 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Shea rose about as far as Tristan fell — from #283 and #198 in 1978 to #125 and #317 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Shea and Tristan were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1197 and #273.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Shea #25 in 2007, Tristan #131 in 2005.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Shea held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Tristan in 30.
Highest recorded here: Shea #308 in 1999, Tristan #119 in 2009.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Shea #1197, Tristan #273.
Republic of Ireland · Boys30 shared years, 1978–2025
Shea held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Tristan in 22.
Highest recorded here: Shea #125 in 2025, Tristan #99 in 2006.
The order changed in 2021: Shea moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #240 and #204; by 2021 that had become #215 and #271.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Shea #125, Tristan #317.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Shea held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Tristan in 0.
Highest recorded here: Shea #25 in 2007, Tristan #131 in 2005.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Shea #51, Tristan #339.
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 | Tristan |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | The Anglicized form of Séaghdha, occasionally used as a feminine name as well. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Irish | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈʃeɪ/ | |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Sé, Séaghdha, Shay | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #125 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #273 (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 | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Shea has a recorded origin (Irish); Tristan does not have one recorded yet.
- Shea has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Tristan.
- A meaning is recorded for Shea; Tristan doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
- The available evidence gives Shea a "high" Data Confidence level and Tristan 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
Tristan
Popularity journey
First recorded1971
First recorded at #304 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1971 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1982–2008
Highest recorded position: #74 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1999 (recorded 1982–2008).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #273 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys