Donald vs Steven
Donald 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 1969, Donald was ranked #95 and Steven #15 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1969, Donald was ranked #94 and Steven #17 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Donald was ranked #432 and Steven #307 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2019, Donald was ranked #764 and Steven #466 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Donald was ranked #1595 and Steven #800 among boys in England and Wales.
Donald and Steven over time
Donald and Steven appear together in 4 published lists, across 94 years of shared records. Steven held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Donald 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.
Donald reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Steven 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 1956, Steven moved ahead of Donald in New Zealand · Boys — #34 and #36 the year before became #36 and #34.
- Longest-running competitions
Donald and Steven were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 32 years, from 1964 to 2019, ending at #764 and #466.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Donald #680 in 1996, Steven #73 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys32 shared years, 1964–2019
Donald held the stronger position in 9 of those years, Steven in 23.
Highest recorded here: Donald #96 in 1965, Steven #61 in 1986.
The order changed in 1973: Steven moved ahead. In 1972 they stood at #138 and #141; by 1973 that had become #145 and #123.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Donald #764, Steven #466.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Donald held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Steven in 29.
Highest recorded here: Donald #680 in 1996, Steven #73 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Donald #1595, Steven #800.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys17 shared years, 1952–1969
Donald held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Steven in 17.
Highest recorded here: Donald #40 in 1953, Steven #12 in 1961.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1969: Donald #94, Steven #17.
New Zealand · Boys16 shared years, 1954–1969
Donald held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Steven in 14.
Highest recorded here: Donald #34 in 1955, Steven #15 in 1967.
The order changed in 1956: Steven moved ahead. In 1955 they stood at #34 and #36; by 1956 that had become #36 and #34.
Most recent shared year, 1969: Donald #95, Steven #15.
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 | Donald | Steven |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | ||
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Scotland · Boys #432 (2024) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #829 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 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
- Donald and Steven both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Donald
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #45 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 recorded1954–1969
Highest recorded position: #34 among boys in New Zealand, in 1955 (recorded 1954–1969).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1595 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · 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