Jack vs Steven
Jack 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, Jack was ranked #2 and Steven #84 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Jack was ranked #2 and Steven #414 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Jack was ranked #2 and Steven #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Jack was ranked #7 and Steven #307 among boys in Scotland.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1997, Jack was ranked #12 and Steven #77 among boys in New Zealand.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Jack was ranked #22 and Steven #800 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2017, Jack was ranked #379 and Steven #487 among boys in Norway.
Jack and Steven over time
Jack and Steven appear together in 6 published lists, across 187 years of shared records. Jack held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Steven in 0.
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.
Steven reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Jack 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 took the other's place near the top
In New Zealand · Boys, Jack moved into the top 50 at #37 in 1993 as Steven fell out of it to #51, having been #44 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1991, Jack moved ahead of Steven in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #33 and #30 the year before became #26 and #34.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Jack and Steven changed places 16 times in Norway · Boys between 1946 and 2017, ending at #379 and #487.
- Longest-running competitions
Jack and Steven were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 57 years, from 1946 to 2017, ending at #379 and #487.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Jack #1 in 1996, Steven #73 in 1996.
List by list
Norway · Boys57 shared years, 1946–2017
Jack held the stronger position in 37 of those years, Steven in 20.
Highest recorded here: Jack #165 in 1962, Steven #224 in 1983.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Jack #379, Steven #487.
Republic of Ireland · Boys52 shared years, 1970–2025
Jack held the stronger position in 34 of those years, Steven in 18.
Highest recorded here: Jack #1 in 2000, Steven #57 in 1990.
The order changed in 1991: Jack moved ahead. In 1990 they stood at #85 and #57; by 1991 that had become #64 and #65.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jack #2, Steven #829.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Jack held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Steven in 0.
Highest recorded here: Jack #1 in 1996, Steven #73 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jack #22, Steven #800.
Northern Ireland · Boys24 shared years, 1997–2022
Jack held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Steven in 0.
Highest recorded here: Jack #1 in 2001, Steven #54 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Jack #2, Steven #414.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys15 shared years, 1986–2000
Jack held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Steven in 5.
Highest recorded here: Jack #2 in 1998, Steven #27 in 1986.
The order changed in 1991: Jack moved ahead. In 1990 they stood at #33 and #30; by 1991 that had become #26 and #34.
Most recent shared year, 2000: Jack #2, Steven #84.
New Zealand · Boys10 shared years, 1988–1997
Jack held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Steven in 5.
Highest recorded here: Jack #12 in 1996, Steven #35 in 1988.
The order changed in 1993: Jack moved ahead. In 1992 they stood at #46 and #44; by 1993 that had become #37 and #51.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Jack #12, 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 | Jack | Steven |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | God is gracious (via John), though now used as an independent name. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | English, historically a diminutive of John | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈdʒæk/ | |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Jankin | 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 | Republic of Ireland · Boys #2 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #829 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Jack has a recorded origin (English, historically a diminutive of John); Steven does not have one recorded yet.
- Jack has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Steven.
- A meaning is recorded for Jack; Steven doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Jack a "high" Data Confidence level and Steven a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
How each name got here
Jack
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #171 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1996–2024
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in England and Wales, in 1996 (recorded 1996–2024).
England and Wales · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #10 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