Brendan vs Stephen
Brendan 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 South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1997, Brendan was ranked #49 and Stephen #100 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1991, Brendan was ranked #94 and Stephen #49 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Brendan was ranked #402 and Stephen #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Brendan was ranked #404 and Stephen #305 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Brendan was ranked #619 and Stephen #535 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Brendan was ranked #1402 and Stephen #651 among boys in England and Wales.
Brendan and Stephen over time
Brendan and Stephen appear together in 5 published lists, across 178 years of shared records. Stephen held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Brendan in 0.
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.
Stephen reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Brendan in 2. 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 1984, Brendan moved ahead of Stephen in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #29 and #27 the year before became #27 and #28.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 33 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Brendan and Stephen averaged 30.4 places apart, ending at #49 and #100.
- Longest-running competitions
Brendan and Stephen were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 33 years, from 1965 to 1997, ending at #49 and #100.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Brendan #157 in 1998, Stephen #60 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Brendan held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Stephen in 55.
Highest recorded here: Brendan #16 in 1965, Stephen #4 in 1983.
The order changed in 1969: Stephen moved ahead. In 1968 they stood at #19 and #20; by 1969 that had become #21 and #18.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Brendan #402, Stephen #232.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys33 shared years, 1965–1997
Brendan held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Stephen in 19.
Highest recorded here: Brendan #25 in 1985, Stephen #8 in 1965.
The order changed in 1984: Brendan moved ahead. In 1983 they stood at #29 and #27; by 1984 that had become #27 and #28.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Brendan #49, Stephen #100.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Brendan held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Stephen in 29.
Highest recorded here: Brendan #157 in 1998, Stephen #60 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Brendan #1402, Stephen #651.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Brendan held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Stephen in 26.
Highest recorded here: Brendan #73 in 1997, Stephen #21 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Brendan #404, Stephen #305.
New Zealand · Boys26 shared years, 1966–1991
Brendan held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Stephen in 26.
Highest recorded here: Brendan #53 in 1982, Stephen #7 in 1967.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1991: Brendan #94, Stephen #49.
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 | Brendan | 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 | Not yet recorded | /ˈstiː.vən/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Steven, Stefan, Stephan |
| 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 #402 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Stephen has a recorded origin (Greek); Brendan does not have one recorded yet.
- Brendan and Stephen both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Stephen; Brendan doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Brendan 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
Brendan
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #17 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #16 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1965 (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