Jared vs Stephen
Jared 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 South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1992, Jared was ranked #93 and Stephen #55 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1997, Jared was ranked #91 and Stephen #95 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2020, Jared was ranked #459 and Stephen #198 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2019, Jared was ranked #418 and Stephen #226 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Jared was ranked #1322 and Stephen #651 among boys in England and Wales.
Jared and Stephen over time
Jared and Stephen appear together in 5 published lists, across 92 years of shared records. Stephen held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Jared in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Stephen reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 5 of those lists, and Jared 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.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 24 shared years in New Zealand · Boys, Jared and Stephen averaged 22.5 places apart, ending at #91 and #95.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Jared #196 in 1997, Stephen #60 in 1996.
List by list
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Jared held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Stephen in 29.
Highest recorded here: Jared #196 in 1997, Stephen #60 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jared #1322, Stephen #651.
New Zealand · Boys24 shared years, 1974–1997
Jared held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Stephen in 19.
Highest recorded here: Jared #41 in 1985, Stephen #16 in 1974.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Jared #91, Stephen #95.
Republic of Ireland · Boys23 shared years, 1984–2020
Jared held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Stephen in 23.
Highest recorded here: Jared #228 in 2003, Stephen #5 in 1984.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Jared #459, Stephen #198.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys8 shared years, 1985–1992
Jared held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Stephen in 8.
Highest recorded here: Jared #66 in 1988, Stephen #32 in 1985.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1992: Jared #93, Stephen #55.
Northern Ireland · Boys8 shared years, 1997–2019
Jared held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Stephen in 8.
Highest recorded here: Jared #213 in 2014, Stephen #23 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Jared #418, Stephen #226.
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 | Jared | 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 | AU-NSW, 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 #1322 (2024) | 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); Jared does not have one recorded yet.
- Jared and Stephen both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Stephen; Jared doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Jared 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
Jared
Popularity journey
First recorded1974
First recorded at #97 among boys in New Zealand in 1974 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Boys
Highest recorded1974–2003
Highest recorded position: #41 among boys in New Zealand, in 1985 (recorded 1974–2003).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #1322 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