Calum vs Stephen
Calum and Stephen 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.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Calum was ranked #176 and Stephen #535 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Calum was ranked #432 and Stephen #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Calum was ranked #339 and Stephen #305 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Calum was ranked #3256 and Stephen #716 among boys in England and Wales.
Calum and Stephen 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.
Calum and Stephen over time
Calum and Stephen appear together in 3 published lists, across 91 years of shared records. Stephen held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Calum in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Stephen reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Calum 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Calum and Stephen changed places 8 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2024, ending at #339 and #305.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 27 shared years in Northern Ireland · Boys, Calum and Stephen averaged 47.7 places apart, ending at #339 and #305.
- Longest-running competitions
Calum and Stephen were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #3256 and #716.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Calum #91 in 1996, Stephen #60 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys34 shared years, 1992–2025
Calum held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Stephen in 32.
Highest recorded here: Calum #44 in 2006, Stephen #6 in 1992.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Calum #432, Stephen #232.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Calum held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Stephen in 26.
Highest recorded here: Calum #91 in 1996, Stephen #60 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Calum #3256, Stephen #716.
Northern Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1997–2024
Calum held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Stephen in 18.
Highest recorded here: Calum #21 in 2006, Stephen #21 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Calum #339, Stephen #305.
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 Calum
Pairs where Calum shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Rory vs Calum
In 1996 they stood at #93 and #91 in England and Wales · Boys, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #17 and #3256.
Rory · Calum · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Harrison vs Calum
In 1996 they stood at #86 and #91 in England and Wales · Boys, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #50 and #3256.
Harrison · Calum · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ethan vs Calum
In 1996 they stood at #92 and #91 in England and Wales · Boys, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #54 and #3256.
Ethan · Calum · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Calum vs Marcus
In 1996 they stood at #91 and #85 in England and Wales · Boys, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #3256 and #267.
Calum · Marcus · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other comparisons involving Stephen
Pairs where Stephen shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Stephen vs Ross
In 1996 they stood at #60 and #68 in England and Wales · Boys, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #716 and #2014.
Stephen · Ross · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Stephen vs Henry
In 1996 they stood at #60 and #58 in England and Wales · Boys, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #716 and #13.
Stephen · Henry · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Stephen vs Max
In 1996 they stood at #60 and #56 in England and Wales · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #716 and #48.
Stephen · Max · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Stephen vs Dylan
In 1996 they stood at #60 and #57 in England and Wales · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #716 and #72.
Stephen · Dylan · 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 | Calum | 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 | England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #432 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Stephen has a recorded origin (Greek); Calum does not have one recorded yet.
- Calum and Stephen both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Stephen; Calum doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
- The available evidence gives Calum 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
Calum
Popularity journey
First recorded1992
First recorded at #298 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1992 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #21 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2006 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #3256 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · 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 #716 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys