Ethan vs Steven
Ethan 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 South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2000, Ethan was ranked #21 and Steven #84 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Ethan was ranked #25 and Steven #414 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1997, Ethan was ranked #28 and Steven #77 among boys in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Ethan was ranked #48 and Steven #800 among boys in England and Wales.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Ethan was ranked #51 and Steven #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Ethan was ranked #54 and Steven #307 among boys in Scotland.
Ethan and Steven over time
Ethan and Steven appear together in 5 published lists, across 107 years of shared records. Ethan held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Steven 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.
Steven reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Ethan 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 1997, Ethan moved ahead of Steven in England and Wales · Boys — #92 and #73 the year before became #62 and #79.
- Longest-running competitions
Ethan and Steven were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 36 years, from 1989 to 2025, ending at #51 and #829.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1997 they stood at #62 and #59 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2022 they were #25 and #414.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys36 shared years, 1989–2025
Ethan held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Steven in 9.
Highest recorded here: Ethan #30 in 2012, Steven #57 in 1990.
The order changed in 1999: Ethan moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #83 and #83; by 1999 that had become #76 and #97.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ethan #51, Steven #829.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Ethan held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Steven in 1.
Highest recorded here: Ethan #11 in 2011, Steven #73 in 1996.
The order changed in 1997: Ethan moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #92 and #73; by 1997 that had become #62 and #79.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Ethan #48, Steven #800.
Northern Ireland · Boys24 shared years, 1997–2022
Ethan held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Steven in 1.
Highest recorded here: Ethan #4 in 2011, Steven #54 in 1998.
The order changed in 1998: Ethan moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #62 and #59; by 1998 that had become #44 and #54.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Ethan #25, Steven #414.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys10 shared years, 1991–2000
Ethan held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Steven in 4.
Highest recorded here: Ethan #21 in 2000, Steven #34 in 1991.
The order changed in 1995: Ethan moved ahead. In 1994 they stood at #61 and #53; by 1995 that had become #57 and #59.
Most recent shared year, 2000: Ethan #21, Steven #84.
New Zealand · Boys8 shared years, 1990–1997
Ethan held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Steven in 1.
Highest recorded here: Ethan #19 in 1992, Steven #42 in 1990.
The order changed in 1991: Ethan moved ahead. In 1990 they stood at #47 and #42; by 1991 that had become #27 and #44.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Ethan #28, Steven #77.
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 | Ethan | Steven |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Traditionally associated with qualities like 'solid, enduring, firm'. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈiːθən/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| 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 | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #49 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #829 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Ethan has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Steven does not have one recorded yet.
- Ethan and Steven both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Ethan; Steven 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
Ethan
Popularity journey
First recorded1989
First recorded at #208 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1989 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1991–2025
Highest recorded position: #4 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2011 (recorded 1991–2025).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #49 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · 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