Holly vs Stephanie
Holly 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 Zealand · Girls
In 2005, Holly was ranked #18 and Stephanie #99 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2010, Holly was ranked #41 and Stephanie #73 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Holly was ranked #69 and Stephanie #294 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Holly was ranked #79 and Stephanie #541 among girls in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Holly was ranked #88 and Stephanie #391 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Holly was ranked #169 and Stephanie #719 among girls in England and Wales.
Holly and Stephanie over time
Holly and Stephanie appear together in 5 published lists, across 145 years of shared records. Holly held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Stephanie in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Stephanie reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Holly 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 2001, Holly moved ahead of Stephanie in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #37 and #27 the year before became #25 and #36.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 28 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Holly and Stephanie averaged 40.3 places apart, ending at #41 and #73.
- Longest-running competitions
Holly and Stephanie were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #169 and #719.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1997 they stood at #46 and #50 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2023 they were #88 and #391.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls46 shared years, 1976–2025
Holly held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Stephanie in 19.
Highest recorded here: Holly #11 in 2010, Stephanie #23 in 1990.
The order changed in 1999: Holly moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #75 and #69; by 1999 that had become #46 and #78.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Holly #69, Stephanie #294.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Holly held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Stephanie in 0.
Highest recorded here: Holly #12 in 2002, Stephanie #48 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Holly #169, Stephanie #719.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls28 shared years, 1983–2010
Holly held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Stephanie in 18.
Highest recorded here: Holly #19 in 2003, Stephanie #5 in 1994.
The order changed in 2001: Holly moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #37 and #27; by 2001 that had become #25 and #36.
Most recent shared year, 2010: Holly #41, Stephanie #73.
Northern Ireland · Girls22 shared years, 1997–2023
Holly held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Stephanie in 0.
Highest recorded here: Holly #22 in 2003, Stephanie #50 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Holly #88, Stephanie #391.
New Zealand · Girls19 shared years, 1983–2005
Holly held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Stephanie in 12.
Highest recorded here: Holly #16 in 1994, Stephanie #11 in 1991.
The order changed in 1996: Holly moved ahead. In 1995 they stood at #26 and #16; by 1996 that had become #20 and #22.
Most recent shared year, 2005: Holly #18, Stephanie #99.
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 | Holly | 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, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #69 (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); Holly does not have one recorded yet.
- Holly has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Stephanie.
- A meaning is recorded for Stephanie; Holly doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Holly
Popularity journey
First recorded1976
First recorded at #392 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1976 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1976–2025
Highest recorded position: #11 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2010 (recorded 1976–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #169 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