Arthur vs Stephan
Arthur 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.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Arthur was ranked #4 and Stephan #2088 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2004, Arthur was ranked #214 and Stephan #351 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2008, Arthur was ranked #269 and Stephan #574 among boys in Norway.
Arthur and Stephan over time
Arthur and Stephan appear together in 3 published lists, across 87 years of shared records. Arthur held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Stephan in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Arthur and Stephan changed places 10 times in Norway · Boys between 1957 and 2008, ending at #269 and #574.
- Longest-running competitions
Arthur and Stephan were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 40 years, from 1957 to 2008, ending at #269 and #574.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Republic of Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Arthur #115 in 1969, Stephan #196 in 1969.
List by list
Norway · Boys40 shared years, 1957–2008
Arthur held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Stephan in 17.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #180 in 1957, Stephan #230 in 1987.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2008: Arthur #269, Stephan #574.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Arthur held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Stephan in 0.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #3 in 2020, Stephan #526 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Arthur #4, Stephan #2088.
Republic of Ireland · Boys18 shared years, 1969–2004
Arthur held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Stephan in 1.
Highest recorded here: Arthur #115 in 1969, Stephan #196 in 1969.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2004: Arthur #214, 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 | Arthur | Stephan |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Meaning debated — no single origin is established with confidence. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Disputed — possibly Celtic (Brittonic), possibly Roman | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɑɹθər/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Art, Artie | 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 | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #19 (2025) | England and Wales · Boys #2088 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Arthur has a recorded origin (Disputed — possibly Celtic (Brittonic), possibly Roman); Stephan does not have one recorded yet.
- Arthur and Stephan both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Arthur; Stephan doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, IE, NO.
- The available evidence gives Arthur a "high" Data Confidence level and Stephan a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Arthur
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #153 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in England and Wales, in 2020 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #19 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