Conor vs Stephen
Conor 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.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Conor was ranked #16 and Stephen #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Conor was ranked #51 and Stephen #305 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1996, Conor was ranked #98 and Stephen #87 among boys in New Zealand.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Conor was ranked #181 and Stephen #535 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Conor was ranked #422 and Stephen #651 among boys in England and Wales.
Conor and Stephen over time
Conor and Stephen appear together in 3 published lists, across 119 years of shared records. Conor held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Stephen 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 2 of those lists, Conor in 1. 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 1994, Conor moved ahead of Stephen in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #9 and #7 the year before became #3 and #8.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Conor and Stephen changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #422 and #651.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 62 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Conor and Stephen averaged 57.9 places apart, ending at #16 and #232.
- Longest-running competitions
Conor and Stephen were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 62 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #16 and #232.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Conor #57 in 1998, Stephen #60 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #63 and #60 in England and Wales · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2024 they were #422 and #651.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Conor held the stronger position in 32 of those years, Stephen in 30.
Highest recorded here: Conor #1 in 1995, Stephen #4 in 1983.
The order changed in 1994: Conor moved ahead. In 1993 they stood at #9 and #7; by 1994 that had become #3 and #8.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Conor #16, Stephen #232.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Conor held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Stephen in 8.
Highest recorded here: Conor #57 in 1998, Stephen #60 in 1996.
The order changed in 2012: Conor moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #273 and #255; by 2012 that had become #242 and #307.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Conor #422, Stephen #651.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Conor held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Stephen in 0.
Highest recorded here: Conor #4 in 1997, Stephen #21 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Conor #51, 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.
Side by side
| Field | Conor | Stephen |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | The Anglicized form of Conchobar (Modern Irish Conchúr), from the elements 'cú' ('dog, hound') and 'cobar'. | 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 | Irish | Greek |
| Pronunciation | /ˈkɑn.əɹ/ | /ˈstiː.vən/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Steven, Stefan, Stephan |
| Recorded regional usage | 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 #16 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Conor is recorded with a Irish origin, while Stephen is recorded with a Greek origin.
- Conor and Stephen both have 2 syllables.
- Conor's recorded meaning differs from Stephen's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Conor 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
Conor
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #56 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: #1 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1995 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #16 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