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 2024, Barry was ranked #3254 and Stephen #651 among boys in England and Wales.
Barry and Stephen over time
Barry and Stephen appear together in 5 published lists, across 151 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 · Boys28 shared years, 1996–2024
Barry held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Stephen in 28.
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, 2024: Barry #3254, Stephen #651.
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.
Side by side
| Field | Barry | Stephen |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | 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 | Not yet recorded | Greek |
| Pronunciation | /ˈstiː.vən/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Steven, Stefan, Stephan |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #402 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
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
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
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #17 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1985 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #402 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