Ben vs Steven
Ben and Steven compared 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.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Ben was ranked #40 and Steven #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1997, Ben was ranked #63 and Steven #77 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Ben was ranked #82 and Steven #414 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1998, Ben was ranked #91 and Steven #89 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Ben was ranked #121 and Steven #307 among boys in Scotland.
Norway · Boys
In 2017, Ben was ranked #358 and Steven #487 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Ben was ranked #487 and Steven #976 among boys in England and Wales.
Ben and Steven over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Ben and Steven over time
Ben and Steven appear together in 6 published lists, across 194 years of shared records. Ben held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Steven in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Steven reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, Ben 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 1997, Ben moved ahead of Steven in New Zealand · Boys — #90 and #80 the year before became #63 and #77.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Ben and Steven changed places 20 times in Norway · Boys between 1954 and 2017, ending at #358 and #487.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 23 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Ben and Steven averaged 30.0 places apart, ending at #91 and #89.
- Longest-running competitions
Ben and Steven were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #487 and #976.
List by list
Norway · Boys54 shared years, 1954–2017
Ben held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Steven in 27.
Highest recorded here: Ben #233 in 1965, Steven #224 in 1983.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Ben #358, Steven #487.
Republic of Ireland · Boys46 shared years, 1978–2025
Ben held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Steven in 17.
Highest recorded here: Ben #14 in 2005, Steven #57 in 1990.
The order changed in 1996: Ben moved ahead. In 1995 they stood at #100 and #75; by 1996 that had become #74 and #76.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ben #40, Steven #829.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Ben held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Steven in 0.
Highest recorded here: Ben #21 in 2002, Steven #73 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ben #487, Steven #976.
Northern Ireland · Boys24 shared years, 1997–2022
Ben held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Steven in 0.
Highest recorded here: Ben #6 in 2004, Steven #54 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Ben #82, Steven #414.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys23 shared years, 1976–1998
Ben held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Steven in 23.
Highest recorded here: Ben #41 in 1981, Steven #15 in 1976.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1998: Ben #91, Steven #89.
New Zealand · Boys17 shared years, 1981–1997
Ben held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Steven in 16.
Highest recorded here: Ben #56 in 1990, Steven #24 in 1981.
The order changed in 1997: Ben moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #90 and #80; by 1997 that had become #63 and #77.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Ben #63, Steven #77.
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 Ben
Pairs where Ben shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Ben vs Mohammed
In 1996 they stood at #34 and #36 in England and Wales · Boys, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #487 and #20.
Ben · Mohammed · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Charlie vs Ben
In 1996 they stood at #38 and #34 in England and Wales · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #22 and #487.
Charlie · Ben · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jacob vs Ben
In 1996 they stood at #35 and #34 in England and Wales · Boys, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #41 and #487.
Jacob · Ben · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- David vs Ben
In 1996 they stood at #32 and #34 in England and Wales · Boys, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #73 and #487.
David · Ben · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other comparisons involving Steven
Pairs where Steven shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Steven vs Ross
In 1996 they stood at #73 and #68 in England and Wales · Boys, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #976 and #2014.
Steven · Ross · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Patrick vs Steven
In 1996 they stood at #66 and #73 in England and Wales · Boys, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #134 and #976.
Patrick · Steven · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anthony vs Steven
In 1996 they stood at #65 and #73 in England and Wales · Boys, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #239 and #976.
Anthony · Steven · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Craig vs Steven
In 1996 they stood at #81 and #73 in England and Wales · Boys, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #1705 and #976.
Craig · Steven · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
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
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Ben | Steven |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | A short form of Benjamin, Benedict and other names beginning with 'Ben'; in Dutch, can also be short for Bernhard. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Hebrew/Germanic, short form | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈbɛn/ | |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #40 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #829 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Ben has a recorded origin (Hebrew/Germanic, short form); Steven does not have one recorded yet.
- Ben has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Steven.
- A meaning is recorded for Ben; Steven doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Ben
Popularity journey
First recorded1950
First recorded at #376 among boys in Norway in 1950 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #6 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2004 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #487 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Steven
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #363 among boys in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2000
Highest recorded position: #12 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1961 (recorded 1952–2000).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #976 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys