Anthony vs Stephen
Anthony 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 South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1997, Anthony was ranked #41 and Stephen #100 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1997, Anthony was ranked #61 and Stephen #95 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Anthony was ranked #135 and Stephen #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Anthony was ranked #152 and Stephen #535 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Anthony was ranked #202 and Stephen #305 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Anthony was ranked #216 and Stephen #651 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2001, Anthony was ranked #353 and Stephen #522 among boys in Norway.
Anthony and Stephen over time
Anthony and Stephen appear together in 6 published lists, across 253 years of shared records. Stephen held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Anthony in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 5 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 2 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 2000, Anthony moved ahead of Stephen in England and Wales · Boys — #81 and #74 the year before became #83 and #94.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Anthony and Stephen changed places 9 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2024, ending at #202 and #305.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 46 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Anthony and Stephen averaged 11.1 places apart, ending at #41 and #100.
- Longest-running competitions
Anthony and Stephen were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 46 years, from 1952 to 1997, ending at #41 and #100.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Anthony #65 in 1996, Stephen #60 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #65 and #60 in England and Wales · Boys, 5 places apart; by 2024 they were #216 and #651.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Anthony held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Stephen in 41.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #12 in 1964, Stephen #4 in 1983.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Anthony #135, Stephen #232.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys46 shared years, 1952–1997
Anthony held the stronger position in 31 of those years, Stephen in 15.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #8 in 1968, Stephen #3 in 1955.
The order changed in 1967: Anthony moved ahead. In 1966 they stood at #11 and #9; by 1967 that had become #9 and #11.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Anthony #41, Stephen #100.
New Zealand · Boys44 shared years, 1954–1997
Anthony held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Stephen in 31.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #11 in 1959, Stephen #5 in 1958.
The order changed in 1985: Anthony moved ahead. In 1984 they stood at #37 and #31; by 1985 that had become #34 and #39.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Anthony #61, Stephen #95.
Norway · Boys44 shared years, 1946–2001
Anthony held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Stephen in 35.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #298 in 1949, Stephen #241 in 1949.
The order changed in 1995: Anthony moved ahead. In 1994 they stood at #440 and #339; by 1995 that had become #443 and #511.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Anthony #353, Stephen #522.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Anthony held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Stephen in 4.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #65 in 1996, Stephen #60 in 1996.
The order changed in 2000: Anthony moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #81 and #74; by 2000 that had become #83 and #94.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anthony #216, Stephen #651.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Anthony held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Stephen in 17.
Highest recorded here: Anthony #70 in 1997, Stephen #21 in 1998.
The order changed in 2021: Anthony moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #169 and #152; by 2021 that had become #192 and #226.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anthony #202, 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 | Anthony | Stephen |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | The English form of the Roman family name Antonius, of unknown Etruscan origin. Later incorrectly associated with Greek 'anthos' ('flower'), which led to the addition of the 'h' to this spelling in the 17th century. | 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 | Etruscan (unknown origin) | Greek |
| Pronunciation | /ˈæn.θə.ni/ | /ˈstiː.vən/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 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 #135 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Anthony is recorded with a Etruscan (unknown origin) origin, while Stephen is recorded with a Greek origin.
- Anthony has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Stephen.
- Anthony'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 Anthony 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
Anthony
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #355 among boys in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2021
Highest recorded position: #8 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1968 (recorded 1952–2021).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #451 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · 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