Namewise

Colin vs Stephen

Colin 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 Zealand · Boys

    In 1975, Colin was ranked #99 and Stephen #18 among boys in New Zealand.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys

    In 1983, Colin was ranked #90 and Stephen #27 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2021, Colin was ranked #433 and Stephen #226 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2025, Colin was ranked #348 and Stephen #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

  • Norway · Boys

    In 2001, Colin was ranked #490 and Stephen #522 among boys in Norway.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2025, Colin was ranked #1538 and Stephen #716 among boys in England and Wales.

Colin and Stephen over time

Colin and Stephen appear together in 6 published lists, across 183 years of shared records. Stephen held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Colin in 0.

In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.

Colin reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Stephen 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.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 32 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Colin and Stephen averaged 36.4 places apart, ending at #90 and #27.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Colin and Stephen were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1538 and #716.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Colin #311 in 1997, Stephen #60 in 1996.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025

    Colin held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Stephen in 62.

    Highest recorded here: Colin #38 in 1985, Stephen #4 in 1983.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Colin #348, Stephen #232.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys32 shared years, 1952–1983

    Colin held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Stephen in 32.

    Highest recorded here: Colin #22 in 1952, Stephen #3 in 1955.

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

    Most recent shared year, 1983: Colin #90, Stephen #27.

  • England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Colin held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Stephen in 30.

    Highest recorded here: Colin #311 in 1997, Stephen #60 in 1996.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Colin #1538, Stephen #716.

  • New Zealand · Boys21 shared years, 1954–1975

    Colin held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Stephen in 21.

    Highest recorded here: Colin #25 in 1955, Stephen #5 in 1958.

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

    Most recent shared year, 1975: Colin #99, Stephen #18.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys21 shared years, 1997–2021

    Colin held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Stephen in 21.

    Highest recorded here: Colin #96 in 1997, Stephen #21 in 1998.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2021: Colin #433, Stephen #226.

  • Norway · Boys17 shared years, 1946–2001

    Colin held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Stephen in 13.

    Highest recorded here: Colin #326 in 1946, Stephen #288 in 1966.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2001: Colin #490, Stephen #522.

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 Colin

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

Other comparisons involving Stephen

Pairs where Stephen 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 — 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

All 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.

The 2020s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Colin, Stephen
FieldColinStephen
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Editorially researched profile
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningNot yet recordedFrom 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.
OriginNot yet recordedGreek
PronunciationNot yet recorded/ˈstiː.vən/
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedSteven, Stefan, Stephan
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationNorway · Boys #119 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recorded90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)94/10082/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediumhigh

What the data shows

  • Stephen has a recorded origin (Greek); Colin does not have one recorded yet.
  • Colin and Stephen both have 2 syllables.
  • A meaning is recorded for Stephen; Colin doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
  • The available evidence gives Colin 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

Colin

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1946

    First recorded at #326 among boys in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1952–1983

    Highest recorded position: #22 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1952 (recorded 1952–1983).

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #1538 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys

Stephen

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1952–1997

    Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1955 (recorded 1952–1997).

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #716 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys