Namewise

Barry vs Stephen

Barry 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 1972, Barry was ranked #73 and Stephen #14 among boys in New Zealand.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys

    In 1973, Barry was ranked #97 and Stephen #20 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2025, Barry was ranked #402 and Stephen #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2022, Barry was ranked #414 and Stephen #285 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2025, Barry was ranked #3684 and Stephen #716 among boys in England and Wales.

Barry and Stephen over time

Barry and Stephen appear together in 5 published lists, across 152 years of shared records. Stephen held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Barry in 0.

In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.

Barry reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Stephen 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.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 21 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Barry and Stephen averaged 45.8 places apart, ending at #97 and #20.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Barry and Stephen were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 62 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #402 and #232.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Barry #441 in 1996, Stephen #60 in 1996.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025

    Barry held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Stephen in 62.

    Highest recorded here: Barry #17 in 1985, Stephen #4 in 1983.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Barry #402, Stephen #232.

  • England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2025

    Barry held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Stephen in 29.

    Highest recorded here: Barry #441 in 1996, Stephen #60 in 1996.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Barry #3684, Stephen #716.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys21 shared years, 1952–1973

    Barry held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Stephen in 21.

    Highest recorded here: Barry #30 in 1952, Stephen #3 in 1955.

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

    Most recent shared year, 1973: Barry #97, Stephen #20.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys21 shared years, 1997–2022

    Barry held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Stephen in 21.

    Highest recorded here: Barry #90 in 1997, Stephen #21 in 1998.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2022: Barry #414, Stephen #285.

  • New Zealand · Boys19 shared years, 1954–1972

    Barry held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Stephen in 19.

    Highest recorded here: Barry #24 in 1955, Stephen #5 in 1958.

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

    Most recent shared year, 1972: Barry #73, Stephen #14.

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 Barry

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

Other comparisons involving Stephen

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

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — moved together in several countries.

  • Christopher vs Paul

    Christopher and Paul both fell over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.

    Christopher · Paul · 80 shared years, 1946–2025 · Moved together in several countries

  • Oliver vs Leo

    Oliver and Leo both rose over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.

    Oliver · Leo · 63 shared years, 1959–2025 · Moved together in several countries

  • Oliver vs Luca

    Oliver and Luca both rose over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.

    Oliver · Luca · 43 shared years, 1973–2025 · Moved together in several countries

  • Amelia vs Sofia

    Amelia and Sofia both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Norway · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.

    Amelia · Sofia · 36 shared years, 1972–2025 · Moved together in several countries

All moved together in several countries→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Barry, Stephen
FieldBarryStephen
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Editorially researched profile
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningNot yet recordedFrom 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.
OriginNot yet recordedGreek
Pronunciation/ˈstiː.vən/
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedSteven, Stefan, Stephan
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Boys #402 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recorded90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)94/10082/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediumhigh

What the data shows

  • Stephen has a recorded origin (Greek); Barry does not have one recorded yet.
  • Barry and Stephen both have 2 syllables.
  • A meaning is recorded for Stephen; Barry doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
  • The available evidence gives Barry 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

Barry

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1952

    First recorded at #30 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 recorded1964–2025

    Highest recorded position: #17 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1985 (recorded 1964–2025).

    Republic of Ireland · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #3684 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys

Stephen

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1952–1997

    Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1955 (recorded 1952–1997).

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #716 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys