Siobhán vs Sorcha
Siobhán and Sorchacompared 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 · Girls
In 2025, Siobhán was ranked #885 and Sorcha #273 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2019, Siobhán was ranked #336 and Sorcha #336 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Siobhán was ranked #3705 and Sorcha #5927 among girls in England and Wales.
Siobhán and Sorcha over time
Siobhán and Sorcha appear together in 3 published lists, across 96 years of shared records. Siobhán held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Sorcha 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.
Siobhán reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Sorcha 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 2014, Sorcha moved ahead of Siobhán in Republic of Ireland · Girls — #216 and #254 the year before became #264 and #184.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Siobhán and Sorcha changed places 7 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1968 and 2025, ending at #885 and #273.
- Longest-running competitions
Siobhán and Sorcha were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #3705 and #5927.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Siobhán #138 in 1996, Sorcha #585 in 1997.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls53 shared years, 1968–2025
Siobhán held the stronger position in 37 of those years, Sorcha in 14.
Highest recorded here: Siobhán #15 in 1971, Sorcha #74 in 1999.
The order changed in 2014: Sorcha moved ahead. In 2013 they stood at #216 and #254; by 2014 that had become #264 and #184.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Siobhán #885, Sorcha #273.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Siobhán held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Sorcha in 4.
Highest recorded here: Siobhán #138 in 1996, Sorcha #585 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Siobhán #3705, Sorcha #5927.
Northern Ireland · Girls13 shared years, 1997–2019
Siobhán held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Sorcha in 9.
Highest recorded here: Siobhán #133 in 1997, Sorcha #98 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Siobhán #336, Sorcha #336.
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 Siobhán
Pairs where Siobhán shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Anna vs Siobhán
In 1964 they stood at #34 and #35 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #26 and #885.
Anna · Siobhán · 57 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Maria vs Siobhán
In 1964 they stood at #33 and #35 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #74 and #885.
Maria · Siobhán · 57 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Nora vs Siobhán
In 1964 they stood at #30 and #35 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #76 and #885.
Nora · Siobhán · 57 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Siobhán vs Julia
In 1964 they stood at #35 and #42 in Republic of Ireland · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #885 and #118.
Siobhán · Julia · 57 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Siobhán | Sorcha |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Shares the meaning of Joan/Jehanne: commonly interpreted as 'God is gracious'. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Irish | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ʃɪˈvɔːn/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Chevonne, Shivaun | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland #90 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #273 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Siobhán has a recorded origin (Irish); Sorcha does not have one recorded yet.
- Siobhán has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Sorcha.
- A meaning is recorded for Siobhán; Sorcha doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
- The available evidence gives Siobhán a "high" Data Confidence level and Sorcha a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Siobhán
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #35 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1971 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #3705 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Sorcha
Popularity journey
First recorded1968
First recorded at #357 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1968 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1968–2025
Highest recorded position: #74 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1999 (recorded 1968–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #5927 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls