Gareth vs Stephen
Gareth 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.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1989, Gareth was ranked #93 and Stephen #47 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2021, Gareth was ranked #552 and Stephen #193 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2021, Gareth was ranked #433 and Stephen #226 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Gareth was ranked #2088 and Stephen #651 among boys in England and Wales.
Gareth and Stephen over time
Gareth and Stephen appear together in 4 published lists, across 123 years of shared records. Stephen held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Gareth in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Gareth reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Stephen in 1. 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.
- Longest-running competitions
Gareth and Stephen were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 55 years, from 1964 to 2021, ending at #552 and #193.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Gareth #117 in 1996, Stephen #60 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys55 shared years, 1964–2021
Gareth held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Stephen in 55.
Highest recorded here: Gareth #42 in 1980, Stephen #4 in 1983.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Gareth #552, Stephen #193.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Gareth held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Stephen in 29.
Highest recorded here: Gareth #117 in 1996, Stephen #60 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Gareth #2088, Stephen #651.
Northern Ireland · Boys20 shared years, 1997–2021
Gareth held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Stephen in 20.
Highest recorded here: Gareth #47 in 1997, Stephen #21 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Gareth #433, Stephen #226.
New Zealand · Boys19 shared years, 1971–1989
Gareth held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Stephen in 19.
Highest recorded here: Gareth #30 in 1982, Stephen #12 in 1971.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1989: Gareth #93, Stephen #47.
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 | Gareth | 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 | Not yet recorded | /ˈstiː.vən/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Steven, Stefan, Stephan |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #2088 (2024) | 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); Gareth does not have one recorded yet.
- Gareth and Stephen both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Stephen; Gareth doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Gareth 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
Gareth
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #214 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1971–1989
Highest recorded position: #30 among boys in New Zealand, in 1982 (recorded 1971–1989).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #2088 among boys in England and Wales, in 2024.
England and Wales · 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