Ellen vs Stephanie
Ellen 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 South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1996, Ellen was ranked #73 and Stephanie #10 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1996, Ellen was ranked #73 and Stephanie #22 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Ellen was ranked #135 and Stephanie #391 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Girls
In 2018, Ellen was ranked #159 and Stephanie #527 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Ellen was ranked #166 and Stephanie #294 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Ellen was ranked #541 and Stephanie #541 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Ellen was ranked #1028 and Stephanie #719 among girls in England and Wales.
Ellen and Stephanie over time
Ellen and Stephanie appear together in 5 published lists, across 161 years of shared records. Ellen held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Stephanie in 1.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
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
Ellen and Stephanie changed places 12 times in England and Wales · Girls between 1996 and 2025, ending at #1028 and #719.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 30 shared years in England and Wales · Girls, Ellen and Stephanie averaged 59.2 places apart, ending at #1028 and #719.
- Longest-running competitions
Ellen and Stephanie were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #1028 and #719.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Ellen #63 in 1996, Stephanie #48 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Ellen held the stronger position in 50 of those years, Stephanie in 12.
Highest recorded here: Ellen #23 in 2002, Stephanie #23 in 1990.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ellen #166, Stephanie #294.
Norway · Girls38 shared years, 1966–2018
Ellen held the stronger position in 38 of those years, Stephanie in 0.
Highest recorded here: Ellen #31 in 1966, Stephanie #178 in 1989.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Ellen #159, Stephanie #527.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Ellen held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Stephanie in 15.
Highest recorded here: Ellen #63 in 1996, Stephanie #48 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ellen #1028, Stephanie #719.
Northern Ireland · Girls22 shared years, 1997–2023
Ellen held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Stephanie in 0.
Highest recorded here: Ellen #21 in 2000, Stephanie #50 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Ellen #135, Stephanie #391.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls9 shared years, 1988–1996
Ellen held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Stephanie in 9.
Highest recorded here: Ellen #68 in 1993, Stephanie #5 in 1994.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1996: Ellen #73, Stephanie #10.
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 | Ellen | Stephanie |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | The feminine form of Stephen, from Greek Stephanos meaning 'crown, wreath'. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Greek |
| Pronunciation | /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 | Republic of Ireland · Girls #166 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #294 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 65/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 70/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Stephanie has a recorded origin (Greek); Ellen does not have one recorded yet.
- Ellen has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Stephanie.
- A meaning is recorded for Stephanie; Ellen 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
Ellen
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #29 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1945–2025
Highest recorded position: #15 among girls in Norway, in 1955 (recorded 1945–2025).
Norway · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #1028 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · 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 #719 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls