Christopher vs Steven
Christopher 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 South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2000, Christopher was ranked #28 and Steven #84 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1997, Christopher was ranked #30 and Steven #77 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Christopher was ranked #121 and Steven #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Christopher was ranked #127 and Steven #307 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Christopher was ranked #177 and Steven #414 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Christopher was ranked #204 and Steven #800 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2017, Christopher was ranked #298 and Steven #487 among boys in Norway.
Christopher and Steven over time
Christopher and Steven appear together in 6 published lists, across 267 years of shared records. Christopher held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Steven in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Steven reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Christopher 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
Christopher and Steven changed places 6 times in Norway · Boys between 1946 and 2017, ending at #298 and #487.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 49 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Christopher and Steven averaged 18.7 places apart, ending at #28 and #84.
- Longest-running competitions
Christopher and Steven were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 49 years, from 1952 to 2000, ending at #28 and #84.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Christopher #25 in 1996, Steven #73 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys61 shared years, 1964–2025
Christopher held the stronger position in 61 of those years, Steven in 0.
Highest recorded here: Christopher #13 in 1990, Steven #57 in 1990.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Christopher #121, Steven #829.
Norway · Boys60 shared years, 1946–2017
Christopher held the stronger position in 56 of those years, Steven in 4.
Highest recorded here: Christopher #54 in 1987, Steven #224 in 1983.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Christopher #298, Steven #487.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys49 shared years, 1952–2000
Christopher held the stronger position in 43 of those years, Steven in 6.
Highest recorded here: Christopher #2 in 1985, Steven #12 in 1961.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2000: Christopher #28, Steven #84.
New Zealand · Boys44 shared years, 1954–1997
Christopher held the stronger position in 44 of those years, Steven in 0.
Highest recorded here: Christopher #4 in 1984, Steven #15 in 1967.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Christopher #30, Steven #77.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Christopher held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Steven in 0.
Highest recorded here: Christopher #25 in 1996, Steven #73 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Christopher #204, Steven #800.
Northern Ireland · Boys24 shared years, 1997–2022
Christopher held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Steven in 0.
Highest recorded here: Christopher #10 in 1998, Steven #54 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Christopher #177, 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 | Christopher | Steven |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | From Late Greek Christophoros, combining 'Christos' (Christ) with 'phero' ('to bear') — 'bearing Christ'. Associated with the legend of Saint Christopher carrying the young Jesus across a river. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Greek | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈkɹɪs.tə.fəɹ/ | |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #121 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #829 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 65/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 58/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Christopher has a recorded origin (Greek); Steven does not have one recorded yet.
- Christopher has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Steven.
- A meaning is recorded for Christopher; 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
Christopher
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #306 among boys in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2014
Highest recorded position: #2 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1985 (recorded 1952–2014).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #311 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · 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