Namewise

Caroline vs Stephanie

Caroline and Stephaniecompared 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 · Girls

    In 1985, Caroline was ranked #85 and Stephanie #27 among girls in New Zealand.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls

    In 1981, Caroline was ranked #84 and Stephanie #89 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.

  • Norway · Girls

    In 2018, Caroline was ranked #222 and Stephanie #527 among girls in Norway.

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls

    In 2025, Caroline was ranked #381 and Stephanie #294 among girls in Republic of Ireland.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls

    In 2013, Caroline was ranked #370 and Stephanie #440 among girls in Northern Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Girls

    In 2025, Caroline was ranked #1271 and Stephanie #719 among girls in England and Wales.

Caroline and Stephanie over time

Caroline and Stephanie appear together in 6 published lists, across 186 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.

The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.

Stephanie reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Caroline 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 1981, Stephanie moved ahead of Caroline in New Zealand · Girls — #61 and #71 the year before became #71 and #52.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Caroline and Stephanie changed places 6 times in New South Wales, Australia · Girls between 1965 and 1981, ending at #84 and #89.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 28 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Caroline and Stephanie averaged 18.5 places apart, ending at #85 and #27.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Caroline and Stephanie were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1271 and #719.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Caroline #182 in 1996, Stephanie #48 in 1996.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025

    Caroline held the stronger position in 33 of those years, Stephanie in 29.

    Highest recorded here: Caroline #3 in 1979, Stephanie #23 in 1990.

    The order changed in 2025: Stephanie moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #504 and #631; by 2025 that had become #381 and #294.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Caroline #381, Stephanie #294.

  • Norway · Girls38 shared years, 1966–2018

    Caroline held the stronger position in 38 of those years, Stephanie in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Caroline #15 in 1990, Stephanie #178 in 1989.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2018: Caroline #222, Stephanie #527.

  • England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Caroline held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Stephanie in 30.

    Highest recorded here: Caroline #182 in 1996, Stephanie #48 in 1996.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Caroline #1271, Stephanie #719.

  • New Zealand · Girls28 shared years, 1958–1985

    Caroline held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Stephanie in 21.

    Highest recorded here: Caroline #56 in 1978, Stephanie #27 in 1984.

    The order changed in 1981: Stephanie moved ahead. In 1980 they stood at #61 and #71; by 1981 that had become #71 and #52.

    Most recent shared year, 1985: Caroline #85, Stephanie #27.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Girls15 shared years, 1965–1981

    Caroline held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Stephanie in 7.

    Highest recorded here: Caroline #65 in 1979, Stephanie #70 in 1974.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 1981: Caroline #84, Stephanie #89.

  • Northern Ireland · Girls13 shared years, 1997–2013

    Caroline held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Stephanie in 10.

    Highest recorded here: Caroline #112 in 1998, Stephanie #50 in 1997.

    The order changed in 2013: Caroline moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #430 and #430; by 2013 that had become #370 and #440.

    Most recent shared year, 2013: Caroline #370, Stephanie #440.

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 Caroline

Pairs where Caroline shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Stephanie

Pairs where Stephanie shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — repeatedly exchanged positions.

All repeatedly exchanged positions→

Other pairs from Republic of Ireland lists

Pairs measured inside Republic of Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

Republic of Ireland overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Caroline, Stephanie
FieldCarolineStephanie
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Editorially researched profile
Gender usagefemalefemale
MeaningNot yet recordedThe feminine form of Stephen, from Greek Stephanos meaning 'crown, wreath'.
OriginNot yet recordedGreek
Pronunciation/ˈstɛf.ə.ni/
Syllables43
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Girls #381 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Girls #294 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recorded65/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)76/10070/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediummedium

What the data shows

  • Stephanie has a recorded origin (Greek); Caroline does not have one recorded yet.
  • Caroline has 4 syllables, compared with 3 for Stephanie.
  • A meaning is recorded for Stephanie; Caroline doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.

How each name got here

Caroline

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1957

    First recorded at #94 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1957 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1964–2025

    Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1979 (recorded 1964–2025).

    Republic of Ireland · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #1271 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls

Stephanie

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1953

    First recorded at #97 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1953 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls

  2. Highest recorded1953–2010

    Highest recorded position: #5 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1994 (recorded 1953–2010).

    New South Wales, Australia · Girls

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #719 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Girls