Bradley vs Steven
Bradley and Stevencompared 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 1997, Bradley was ranked #36 and Steven #77 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2000, Bradley was ranked #49 and Steven #84 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Bradley was ranked #246 and Steven #307 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Bradley was ranked #264 and Steven #414 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Bradley was ranked #364 and Steven #800 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Bradley was ranked #372 and Steven #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Bradley and Steven over time
Bradley and Steven appear together in 5 published lists, across 155 years of shared records. Steven held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Bradley in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 4 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 4 of those lists, and Bradley in none. 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 1991, Bradley moved ahead of Steven in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #32 and #30 the year before became #27 and #34.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Bradley and Steven changed places 5 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2022, ending at #264 and #414.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 45 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Bradley and Steven averaged 17.9 places apart, ending at #49 and #84.
- Longest-running competitions
Bradley and Steven were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 45 years, from 1956 to 2000, ending at #49 and #84.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Bradley #28 in 1997, Steven #73 in 1996.
List by list
New South Wales, Australia · Boys45 shared years, 1956–2000
Bradley held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Steven in 34.
Highest recorded here: Bradley #19 in 1976, Steven #12 in 1961.
The order changed in 1991: Bradley moved ahead. In 1990 they stood at #32 and #30; by 1991 that had become #27 and #34.
Most recent shared year, 2000: Bradley #49, Steven #84.
Republic of Ireland · Boys32 shared years, 1987–2025
Bradley held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Steven in 18.
Highest recorded here: Bradley #130 in 2015, Steven #67 in 1993.
The order changed in 2025: Bradley moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #520 and #302; by 2025 that had become #372 and #829.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Bradley #372, Steven #829.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Bradley held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Steven in 0.
Highest recorded here: Bradley #28 in 1997, Steven #73 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Bradley #364, Steven #800.
New Zealand · Boys25 shared years, 1973–1997
Bradley held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Steven in 18.
Highest recorded here: Bradley #33 in 1988, Steven #17 in 1975.
The order changed in 1992: Bradley moved ahead. In 1991 they stood at #52 and #44; by 1992 that had become #43 and #44.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Bradley #36, Steven #77.
Northern Ireland · Boys24 shared years, 1997–2022
Bradley held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Steven in 6.
Highest recorded here: Bradley #68 in 1998, Steven #54 in 1998.
The order changed in 2022: Bradley moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #326 and #295; by 2022 that had become #264 and #414.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Bradley #264, Steven #414.
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 | Bradley | Steven |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #372 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #829 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Bradley and Steven both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Bradley
Popularity journey
First recorded1956
First recorded at #83 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1956 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1956–2003
Highest recorded position: #19 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1976 (recorded 1956–2003).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #372 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · 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 #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys