Ella vs Stephanie
Ella and Stephaniecompared 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 · Girls
In 2005, Ella was ranked #2 and Stephanie #99 among girls in New Zealand.
Norway · Girls
In 2018, Ella was ranked #5 and Stephanie #527 among girls in Norway.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Ella was ranked #7 and Stephanie #391 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Ella was ranked #9 and Stephanie #541 among girls in Scotland.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2010, Ella was ranked #12 and Stephanie #73 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Ella was ranked #17 and Stephanie #294 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Ella was ranked #39 and Stephanie #811 among girls in England and Wales.
Ella and Stephanie over time
Ella and Stephanie appear together in 6 published lists, across 152 years of shared records. Ella held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Stephanie in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 5 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Stephanie reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 6 of those lists, and Ella 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 took the other's place near the top
In England and Wales · Girls, Ella moved into the top 50 at #44 in 1997 as Stephanie fell out of it to #52, having been #48 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1997, Ella moved ahead of Stephanie in England and Wales · Girls — #56 and #48 the year before became #44 and #52.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Ella and Stephanie changed places 4 times in Norway · Girls between 1966 and 2018, ending at #5 and #527.
- Mirrored each other
Over 46 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Girls, Ella rose about as far as Stephanie fell — from #447 and #123 in 1970 to #17 and #294 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Ella and Stephanie were both ranked in Norway · Girls for 34 years, from 1966 to 2018, ending at #5 and #527.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #48 in England and Wales · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2024 they were #39 and #811.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls46 shared years, 1970–2025
Ella held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Stephanie in 19.
Highest recorded here: Ella #3 in 2007, Stephanie #23 in 1990.
The order changed in 1999: Ella moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #94 and #69; by 1999 that had become #76 and #78.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ella #17, Stephanie #294.
Norway · Girls34 shared years, 1966–2018
Ella held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Stephanie in 15.
Highest recorded here: Ella #5 in 2017, Stephanie #178 in 1989.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Ella #5, Stephanie #527.
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Ella held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Stephanie in 1.
Highest recorded here: Ella #6 in 2015, Stephanie #48 in 1996.
The order changed in 1997: Ella moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #56 and #48; by 1997 that had become #44 and #52.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ella #39, Stephanie #811.
Northern Ireland · Girls22 shared years, 1997–2023
Ella held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Stephanie in 3.
Highest recorded here: Ella #4 in 2013, Stephanie #50 in 1997.
The order changed in 2000: Ella moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #119 and #76; by 2000 that had become #86 and #135.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Ella #7, Stephanie #391.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls13 shared years, 1998–2010
Ella held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Stephanie in 3.
Highest recorded here: Ella #2 in 2007, Stephanie #25 in 1998.
The order changed in 2001: Ella moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #29 and #27; by 2001 that had become #19 and #36.
Most recent shared year, 2010: Ella #12, Stephanie #73.
New Zealand · Girls8 shared years, 1993–2005
Ella held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Stephanie in 3.
Highest recorded here: Ella #2 in 2005, Stephanie #16 in 1993.
The order changed in 1997: Ella moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #50 and #22; by 1997 that had become #36 and #43.
Most recent shared year, 2005: Ella #2, Stephanie #99.
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 | Ella | Stephanie |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | A diminutive of Eleanor, Ellen and other names beginning with 'El-', also used as a short form of names ending in '-ella'. Widely used across Scandinavian and Germanic languages as well as English. | The feminine form of Stephen, from Greek Stephanos meaning 'crown, wreath'. |
| Origin | Germanic, diminutive form | Greek |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɛl.ə/ | /ˈstɛf.ə.ni/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| 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 | Norway · Girls #4 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #294 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 65/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 70/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Ella is recorded with a Germanic, diminutive form origin, while Stephanie is recorded with a Greek origin.
- Ella has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Stephanie.
- Ella's recorded meaning differs from Stephanie's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Ella
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #137 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1993–2023
Highest recorded position: #1 among girls in New Zealand, in 2007 (recorded 1993–2023).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #11 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Stephanie
Popularity journey
First recorded1953
First recorded at #97 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1953 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1953–2010
Highest recorded position: #5 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1994 (recorded 1953–2010).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #294 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls