Daniel vs Steven
Daniel 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 Zealand · Boys
In 1997, Daniel was ranked #3 and Steven #77 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2000, Daniel was ranked #7 and Steven #84 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Daniel was ranked #13 and Steven #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Daniel was ranked #14 and Steven #414 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2017, Daniel was ranked #23 and Steven #487 among boys in Norway.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Daniel was ranked #52 and Steven #307 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Daniel was ranked #59 and Steven #800 among boys in England and Wales.
Daniel and Steven over time
Daniel and Steven appear together in 6 published lists, across 266 years of shared records. Daniel held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Steven 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.
Steven reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Daniel 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1973, Daniel moved ahead of Steven in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #20 and #19 the year before became #14 and #22.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 49 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Daniel and Steven averaged 36.1 places apart, ending at #7 and #84.
- Mirrored each other
Over 49 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Daniel rose about as far as Steven fell — from #83 and #41 in 1952 to #7 and #84 in 2000.
- Longest-running competitions
Daniel and Steven were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 49 years, from 1952 to 2000, ending at #7 and #84.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Daniel #2 in 1996, Steven #73 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys61 shared years, 1964–2025
Daniel held the stronger position in 61 of those years, Steven in 0.
Highest recorded here: Daniel #3 in 2009, Steven #57 in 1990.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Daniel #13, Steven #829.
Norway · Boys60 shared years, 1946–2017
Daniel held the stronger position in 60 of those years, Steven in 0.
Highest recorded here: Daniel #3 in 1989, Steven #224 in 1983.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Daniel #23, Steven #487.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys49 shared years, 1952–2000
Daniel held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Steven in 21.
Highest recorded here: Daniel #2 in 1979, Steven #12 in 1961.
The order changed in 1973: Daniel moved ahead. In 1972 they stood at #20 and #19; by 1973 that had become #14 and #22.
Most recent shared year, 2000: Daniel #7, Steven #84.
New Zealand · Boys43 shared years, 1954–1997
Daniel held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Steven in 18.
Highest recorded here: Daniel #1 in 1980, Steven #15 in 1967.
The order changed in 1973: Daniel moved ahead. In 1972 they stood at #28 and #20; by 1973 that had become #17 and #22.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Daniel #3, Steven #77.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Daniel held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Steven in 0.
Highest recorded here: Daniel #2 in 1996, Steven #73 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Daniel #59, Steven #800.
Northern Ireland · Boys24 shared years, 1997–2022
Daniel held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Steven in 0.
Highest recorded here: Daniel #2 in 2010, Steven #54 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Daniel #14, 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 | Daniel | Steven |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'God is my judge', referencing the biblical prophet Daniel. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈdænjəl/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 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 #13 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #829 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Daniel has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Steven does not have one recorded yet.
- Daniel and Steven both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Daniel; 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
Daniel
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #280 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1954–2023
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in New Zealand, in 1980 (recorded 1954–2023).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #64 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · 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