Andrew vs Stephen
Andrew and Stephencompared 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 1997, Andrew was ranked #22 and Stephen #95 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1997, Andrew was ranked #23 and Stephen #100 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Andrew was ranked #104 and Stephen #535 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Andrew was ranked #106 and Stephen #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Andrew was ranked #216 and Stephen #305 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Andrew was ranked #315 and Stephen #651 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2001, Andrew was ranked #376 and Stephen #522 among boys in Norway.
Andrew and Stephen over time
Andrew and Stephen appear together in 6 published lists, across 255 years of shared records. Andrew held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Stephen in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Stephen reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Andrew 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1966, Andrew moved ahead of Stephen in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #9 and #8 the year before became #7 and #9.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Andrew and Stephen changed places 10 times in Norway · Boys between 1946 and 2001, ending at #376 and #522.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 46 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Andrew and Stephen averaged 25.6 places apart, ending at #23 and #100.
- Longest-running competitions
Andrew and Stephen were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 46 years, from 1952 to 1997, ending at #23 and #100.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Andrew #29 in 1996, Stephen #60 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Andrew held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Stephen in 40.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #16 in 1992, Stephen #4 in 1983.
The order changed in 2004: Andrew moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #36 and #33; by 2004 that had become #32 and #37.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Andrew #106, Stephen #232.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys46 shared years, 1952–1997
Andrew held the stronger position in 32 of those years, Stephen in 14.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #4 in 1970, Stephen #3 in 1955.
The order changed in 1966: Andrew moved ahead. In 1965 they stood at #9 and #8; by 1966 that had become #7 and #9.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Andrew #23, Stephen #100.
Norway · Boys46 shared years, 1946–2001
Andrew held the stronger position in 32 of those years, Stephen in 14.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #206 in 1963, Stephen #210 in 1956.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Andrew #376, Stephen #522.
New Zealand · Boys44 shared years, 1954–1997
Andrew held the stronger position in 34 of those years, Stephen in 10.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #2 in 1975, Stephen #5 in 1958.
The order changed in 1964: Andrew moved ahead. In 1963 they stood at #8 and #7; by 1964 that had become #7 and #8.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Andrew #22, Stephen #95.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Andrew held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Stephen in 0.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #29 in 1996, Stephen #60 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Andrew #315, Stephen #651.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Andrew held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Stephen in 0.
Highest recorded here: Andrew #5 in 1997, Stephen #21 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Andrew #216, Stephen #305.
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 | Andrew | Stephen |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | The English form of Greek Andreas, from 'andreios' ('manly, masculine'), itself from 'aner' ('man'). The apostle Andrew was the first disciple to join Jesus and is patron saint of Scotland. | From Greek Stephanos, meaning 'crown, wreath' — literally 'that which surrounds'. Saint Stephen, a deacon stoned to death in the New Testament, is regarded as the first Christian martyr. |
| Origin | Greek, biblical | Greek |
| Pronunciation | /ˈæn.dɹuː/ | /ˈstiː.vən/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Steven, Stefan, Stephan |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #106 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Andrew is recorded with a Greek, biblical origin, while Stephen is recorded with a Greek origin.
- Andrew and Stephen both have 2 syllables.
- Andrew's recorded meaning differs from Stephen's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Andrew a "medium" Data Confidence level and Stephen a "high" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Andrew
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #344 among boys in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1954–2013
Highest recorded position: #2 among boys in New Zealand, in 1975 (recorded 1954–2013).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #106 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Stephen
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #352 among boys in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–1997
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1955 (recorded 1952–1997).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys