Glenn vs Stephen
Glenn 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 1983, Glenn was ranked #100 and Stephen #30 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1986, Glenn was ranked #99 and Stephen #34 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2013, Glenn was ranked #343 and Stephen #138 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Glenn was ranked #829 and Stephen #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2001, Glenn was ranked #245 and Stephen #522 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Glenn was ranked #5119 and Stephen #651 among boys in England and Wales.
Glenn and Stephen over time
Glenn and Stephen appear together in 6 published lists, across 205 years of shared records. Stephen held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Glenn in 1.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Stephen reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Glenn 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.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 35 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Glenn and Stephen averaged 28.6 places apart, ending at #99 and #34.
- Longest-running competitions
Glenn and Stephen were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 35 years, from 1952 to 1986, ending at #99 and #34.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Glenn #278 in 1996, Stephen #60 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys55 shared years, 1964–2025
Glenn held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Stephen in 55.
Highest recorded here: Glenn #92 in 1992, Stephen #4 in 1983.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Glenn #829, Stephen #232.
Norway · Boys46 shared years, 1952–2001
Glenn held the stronger position in 44 of those years, Stephen in 2.
Highest recorded here: Glenn #57 in 1974, Stephen #210 in 1956.
The order changed in 1957: Glenn moved ahead. In 1956 they stood at #248 and #210; by 1957 that had become #207 and #306.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Glenn #245, Stephen #522.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys35 shared years, 1952–1986
Glenn held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Stephen in 35.
Highest recorded here: Glenn #16 in 1962, Stephen #3 in 1955.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1986: Glenn #99, Stephen #34.
New Zealand · Boys29 shared years, 1954–1983
Glenn held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Stephen in 29.
Highest recorded here: Glenn #28 in 1971, Stephen #5 in 1958.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1983: Glenn #100, Stephen #30.
England and Wales · Boys27 shared years, 1996–2024
Glenn held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Stephen in 27.
Highest recorded here: Glenn #278 in 1996, Stephen #60 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Glenn #5119, Stephen #651.
Northern Ireland · Boys13 shared years, 1997–2013
Glenn held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Stephen in 13.
Highest recorded here: Glenn #104 in 1997, Stephen #21 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2013: Glenn #343, Stephen #138.
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 | Glenn | 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 | /ˈstiː.vən/ | |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Steven, Stefan, Stephan |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #829 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Stephen has a recorded origin (Greek); Glenn does not have one recorded yet.
- Glenn has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Stephen.
- A meaning is recorded for Stephen; Glenn doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Glenn 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
Glenn
Popularity journey
First recorded1948
First recorded at #329 among boys in Norway in 1948 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–1986
Highest recorded position: #16 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1962 (recorded 1952–1986).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · 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