Denis vs Stephen
Denis 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 South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1955, Denis was ranked #97 and Stephen #3 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1954, Denis was ranked #82 and Stephen #7 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Denis was ranked #232 and Stephen #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Denis was ranked #305 and Stephen #305 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2001, Denis was ranked #357 and Stephen #522 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Denis was ranked #434 and Stephen #651 among boys in England and Wales.
Denis and Stephen over time
Denis and Stephen appear together in 4 published lists, across 135 years of shared records. Stephen held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Denis 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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 of the lists they share.
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
Denis and Stephen changed places 15 times in Norway · Boys between 1970 and 2001, ending at #357 and #522.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 62 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Denis and Stephen averaged 51.1 places apart, ending at #232 and #232.
- Longest-running competitions
Denis and Stephen were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 62 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #232 and #232.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Denis held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Stephen in 54.
Highest recorded here: Denis #21 in 1964, Stephen #4 in 1983.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Denis #232, Stephen #232.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Denis held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Stephen in 19.
Highest recorded here: Denis #262 in 2020, Stephen #60 in 1996.
The order changed in 2015: Denis moved ahead. In 2014 they stood at #381 and #338; by 2015 that had become #351 and #357.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Denis #434, Stephen #651.
Norway · Boys27 shared years, 1970–2001
Denis held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Stephen in 16.
Highest recorded here: Denis #249 in 1984, Stephen #250 in 1990.
The order changed in 2001: Denis moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #541 and #527; by 2001 that had become #357 and #522.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Denis #357, Stephen #522.
Northern Ireland · Boys17 shared years, 1998–2024
Denis held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Stephen in 16.
Highest recorded here: Denis #231 in 2011, Stephen #21 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Denis #305, 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 | Denis | Stephen |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | 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 | Not yet recorded | Greek |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈstiː.vən/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Steven, Stefan, Stephan |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 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
- Stephen has a recorded origin (Greek); Denis does not have one recorded yet.
- Denis and Stephen both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Stephen; Denis 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 Denis 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
Denis
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #65 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #21 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #232 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