Gareth vs Steven
Gareth 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 Zealand · Boys
In 1989, Gareth was ranked #93 and Steven #40 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2021, Gareth was ranked #433 and Steven #295 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2021, Gareth was ranked #552 and Steven #349 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Gareth was ranked #2088 and Steven #800 among boys in England and Wales.
Gareth and Steven over time
Gareth and Steven appear together in 4 published lists, across 123 years of shared records. Steven held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Gareth in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 2 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Gareth reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Steven 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.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1982, Steven moved ahead of Gareth in Republic of Ireland · Boys — #55 and #79 the year before became #81 and #74.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Gareth and Steven changed places 9 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2021, ending at #433 and #295.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 20 shared years in Northern Ireland · Boys, Gareth and Steven averaged 44.2 places apart, ending at #433 and #295.
- Longest-running competitions
Gareth and Steven were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 55 years, from 1964 to 2021, ending at #552 and #349.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Gareth #117 in 1996, Steven #73 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys55 shared years, 1964–2021
Gareth held the stronger position in 14 of those years, Steven in 41.
Highest recorded here: Gareth #42 in 1980, Steven #57 in 1990.
The order changed in 1982: Steven moved ahead. In 1981 they stood at #55 and #79; by 1982 that had become #81 and #74.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Gareth #552, Steven #349.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Gareth held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Steven in 29.
Highest recorded here: Gareth #117 in 1996, Steven #73 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Gareth #2088, Steven #800.
Northern Ireland · Boys20 shared years, 1997–2021
Gareth held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Steven in 10.
Highest recorded here: Gareth #47 in 1997, Steven #54 in 1998.
The order changed in 2014: Steven moved ahead. In 2013 they stood at #303 and #398; by 2014 that had become #281 and #264.
Most recent shared year, 2021: Gareth #433, Steven #295.
New Zealand · Boys19 shared years, 1971–1989
Gareth held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Steven in 19.
Highest recorded here: Gareth #30 in 1982, Steven #17 in 1971.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1989: Gareth #93, Steven #40.
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 | Steven |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| 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 #829 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Gareth and Steven both have 2 syllables.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
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
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