Adam vs Stephan
Adam and Stephancompared 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 · Boys
In 2004, Adam was ranked #4 and Stephan #351 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Adam was ranked #35 and Stephan #2088 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2008, Adam was ranked #88 and Stephan #574 among boys in Norway.
Adam and Stephan over time
Adam and Stephan appear together in 3 published lists, across 91 years of shared records. Adam held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Stephan 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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 of the lists they share.
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 1973, Adam moved ahead of Stephan in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #196 and #196 the year before became #143 and #290.
- Longest-running competitions
Adam and Stephan were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 44 years, from 1957 to 2008, ending at #88 and #574.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Adam #16 in 1996, Stephan #526 in 1996.
List by list
Norway · Boys44 shared years, 1957–2008
Adam held the stronger position in 44 of those years, Stephan in 0.
Highest recorded here: Adam #86 in 1983, Stephan #230 in 1987.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2008: Adam #88, Stephan #574.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Adam held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Stephan in 0.
Highest recorded here: Adam #16 in 1996, Stephan #526 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Adam #35, Stephan #2088.
Republic of Ireland · Boys18 shared years, 1969–2004
Adam held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Stephan in 0.
Highest recorded here: Adam #4 in 2004, Stephan #196 in 1969.
The order changed in 1973: Adam moved ahead. In 1972 they stood at #196 and #196; by 1973 that had become #143 and #290.
Most recent shared year, 2004: Adam #4, Stephan #351.
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 | Adam | Stephan |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Traditionally understood as the Hebrew word for 'man', with a wordplay connection in Genesis to 'ground/earth', since Adam is described as formed from earth. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈædəm/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, IE, NO |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #20 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #2088 (2024) |
| 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 | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Adam has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Stephan does not have one recorded yet.
- Adam and Stephan both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Adam; Stephan doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE, NO.
How each name got here
Adam
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #380 among boys in Norway in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2001 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #72 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Stephan
Popularity journey
First recorded1957
First recorded at #446 among boys in Norway in 1957 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1969–2004
Highest recorded position: #196 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1969 (recorded 1969–2004).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2088 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · Boys