Edward vs Stephen
Edward 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.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Edward was ranked #31 and Stephen #651 among boys in England and Wales.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1997, Edward was ranked #85 and Stephen #100 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1996, Edward was ranked #93 and Stephen #87 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Edward was ranked #125 and Stephen #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Edward was ranked #177 and Stephen #305 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Edward was ranked #181 and Stephen #535 among boys in Scotland.
Norway · Boys
In 2001, Edward was ranked #336 and Stephen #522 among boys in Norway.
Edward and Stephen over time
Edward and Stephen appear together in 6 published lists, across 252 years of shared records. Stephen held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Edward in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Edward 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1996, Edward moved ahead of Stephen in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #77 and #76 the year before became #72 and #89.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Edward and Stephen changed places 5 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2024, ending at #177 and #305.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 46 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Edward and Stephen averaged 50.6 places apart, ending at #85 and #100.
- Longest-running competitions
Edward and Stephen were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 46 years, from 1952 to 1997, ending at #85 and #100.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Edward #104 in 1997, Stephen #21 in 1998.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Edward held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Stephen in 45.
Highest recorded here: Edward #17 in 1965, Stephen #4 in 1983.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Edward #125, Stephen #232.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys46 shared years, 1952–1997
Edward held the stronger position in 2 of those years, Stephen in 44.
Highest recorded here: Edward #48 in 1952, Stephen #3 in 1955.
The order changed in 1996: Edward moved ahead. In 1995 they stood at #77 and #76; by 1996 that had become #72 and #89.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Edward #85, Stephen #100.
Norway · Boys44 shared years, 1950–2001
Edward held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Stephen in 30.
Highest recorded here: Edward #219 in 1960, Stephen #210 in 1956.
The order changed in 1995: Edward moved ahead. In 1994 they stood at #365 and #339; by 1995 that had become #276 and #511.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Edward #336, Stephen #522.
New Zealand · Boys43 shared years, 1954–1996
Edward held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Stephen in 43.
Highest recorded here: Edward #51 in 1955, Stephen #5 in 1958.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1996: Edward #93, Stephen #87.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Edward held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Stephen in 0.
Highest recorded here: Edward #23 in 2016, Stephen #60 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Edward #31, Stephen #651.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Edward held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Stephen in 15.
Highest recorded here: Edward #104 in 1997, Stephen #21 in 1998.
The order changed in 2016: Edward moved ahead. In 2015 they stood at #129 and #129; by 2016 that had become #127 and #190.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Edward #177, 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 | Edward | 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 | /ˈstiː.vən/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Steven, Stefan, Stephan |
| 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 | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #75 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Stephen has a recorded origin (Greek); Edward does not have one recorded yet.
- Edward and Stephen both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Stephen; Edward doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Edward 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
Edward
Popularity journey
First recorded1950
First recorded at #324 among boys in Norway in 1950 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #17 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1965 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #75 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · 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