Namewise

Adrian vs Steven

Adrian and Stevencompared 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.

  • New Zealand · Boys

    In 1986, Adrian was ranked #86 and Steven #29 among boys in New Zealand.

  • Norway · Boys

    In 2017, Adrian was ranked #30 and Steven #487 among boys in Norway.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys

    In 2000, Adrian was ranked #86 and Steven #84 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2024, Adrian was ranked #244 and Steven #800 among boys in England and Wales.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2021, Adrian was ranked #295 and Steven #295 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • Scotland · Boys

    In 2024, Adrian was ranked #478 and Steven #307 among boys in Scotland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2025, Adrian was ranked #348 and Steven #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

Adrian and Steven over time

Adrian and Steven appear together in 6 published lists, across 241 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.

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.

Steven reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Adrian in 2. 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

    Adrian and Steven changed places 6 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2021, ending at #295 and #295.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 48 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Adrian and Steven averaged 35.7 places apart, ending at #86 and #84.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Adrian and Steven were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 48 years, from 1952 to 2000, ending at #86 and #84.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in New Zealand · Boys within 2 years — Adrian #54 in 1969, Steven #15 in 1967.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys61 shared years, 1964–2025

    Adrian held the stronger position in 41 of those years, Steven in 20.

    Highest recorded here: Adrian #41 in 1975, Steven #57 in 1990.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Adrian #348, Steven #829.

  • Norway · Boys53 shared years, 1958–2017

    Adrian held the stronger position in 41 of those years, Steven in 12.

    Highest recorded here: Adrian #3 in 2005, Steven #224 in 1983.

    The order changed in 1974: Adrian moved ahead. In 1973 they stood at #485 and #333; by 1974 that had become #280 and #388.

    Most recent shared year, 2017: Adrian #30, Steven #487.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys48 shared years, 1952–2000

    Adrian held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Steven in 48.

    Highest recorded here: Adrian #36 in 1977, Steven #12 in 1961.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2000: Adrian #86, Steven #84.

  • England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024

    Adrian held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Steven in 12.

    Highest recorded here: Adrian #190 in 2009, Steven #73 in 1996.

    The order changed in 2008: Adrian moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #207 and #191; by 2008 that had become #203 and #216.

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Adrian #244, Steven #800.

  • New Zealand · Boys28 shared years, 1959–1986

    Adrian held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Steven in 28.

    Highest recorded here: Adrian #54 in 1969, Steven #15 in 1967.

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

    Most recent shared year, 1986: Adrian #86, Steven #29.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys22 shared years, 1997–2021

    Adrian held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Steven in 12.

    Highest recorded here: Adrian #153 in 1997, Steven #54 in 1998.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2021: Adrian #295, Steven #295.

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 Adrian

Pairs where Adrian shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Steven

Pairs where Steven shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Adrian, Steven
FieldAdrianSteven
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningFrom the Latin name Hadrianus. Borne by several saints and six popes, including the only English pope, Adrian IV.Not yet recorded
OriginLatinNot yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈeɪ.dɹi.ən/
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationNorway · Boys #70 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Boys #829 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)88/10088/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Adrian has a recorded origin (Latin); Steven does not have one recorded yet.
  • Adrian and Steven both have 2 syllables.
  • A meaning is recorded for Adrian; Steven doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.

How each name got here

Adrian

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1952

    First recorded at #87 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1958–2025

    Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in Norway, in 2005 (recorded 1958–2025).

    Norway · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #70 among boys in Norway, in 2025.

    Norway · Boys

Steven

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1946

    First recorded at #363 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 recorded1952–2000

    Highest recorded position: #12 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1961 (recorded 1952–2000).

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.

    Republic of Ireland · Boys