Jason vs Stephen
Jason 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 1997, Jason was ranked #47 and Stephen #100 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1997, Jason was ranked #57 and Stephen #95 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Jason was ranked #135 and Stephen #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Jason was ranked #197 and Stephen #651 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Jason was ranked #199 and Stephen #535 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Jason was ranked #305 and Stephen #305 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 1996, Jason was ranked #478 and Stephen #544 among boys in Norway.
Jason and Stephen over time
Jason and Stephen appear together in 6 published lists, across 203 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
The order between them changed and held in 5 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 2 of the lists they share.
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, Jason moved ahead of Stephen in England and Wales · Boys — #97 and #94 the year before became #92 and #99.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Jason and Stephen changed places 10 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2024, ending at #305 and #305.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 34 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Jason and Stephen averaged 22.3 places apart, ending at #47 and #100.
- Longest-running competitions
Jason and Stephen were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 34 years, from 1964 to 1997, ending at #47 and #100.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Jason #69 in 1996, Stephen #60 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #69 and #60 in England and Wales · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2024 they were #197 and #651.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys61 shared years, 1965–2025
Jason held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Stephen in 45.
Highest recorded here: Jason #18 in 1974, Stephen #4 in 1983.
The order changed in 2014: Jason moved ahead. In 2013 they stood at #89 and #86; by 2014 that had become #103 and #120.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jason #135, Stephen #232.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys34 shared years, 1964–1997
Jason held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Stephen in 5.
Highest recorded here: Jason #1 in 1971, Stephen #7 in 1964.
The order changed in 1969: Jason moved ahead. In 1968 they stood at #24 and #11; by 1969 that had become #12 and #14.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Jason #47, Stephen #100.
New Zealand · Boys32 shared years, 1966–1997
Jason held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Stephen in 3.
Highest recorded here: Jason #1 in 1970, Stephen #7 in 1967.
The order changed in 1969: Jason moved ahead. In 1968 they stood at #19 and #10; by 1969 that had become #6 and #9.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Jason #57, Stephen #95.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Jason held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Stephen in 5.
Highest recorded here: Jason #69 in 1996, Stephen #60 in 1996.
The order changed in 2001: Jason moved ahead. In 2000 they stood at #97 and #94; by 2001 that had become #92 and #99.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jason #197, Stephen #651.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Jason held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Stephen in 19.
Highest recorded here: Jason #36 in 1998, Stephen #21 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jason #305, Stephen #305.
Norway · Boys19 shared years, 1969–1996
Jason held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Stephen in 16.
Highest recorded here: Jason #330 in 1972, Stephen #250 in 1990.
The order changed in 1996: Jason moved ahead. In 1995 they stood at #595 and #511; by 1996 that had become #478 and #544.
Most recent shared year, 1996: Jason #478, Stephen #544.
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 | Jason | Stephen |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | From Ancient Greek Iason, meaning 'healer'. In Greek mythology, Jason led the Argonauts in the quest for the Golden Fleece; the name also appears in the New Testament as a Hellenized form possibly of a Hebrew name. | 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 | Greek | Greek |
| Pronunciation | /ˈd͡ʒeɪ.sən/ | /ˈstiː.vən/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Steven, Stefan, Stephan |
| 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 #135 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 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
- Both Jason and Stephen share a recorded Greek origin.
- Jason and Stephen both have 2 syllables.
- Jason's recorded meaning differs from Stephen's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Jason 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
Jason
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #100 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2005
Highest recorded position: #1 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1971 (recorded 1964–2005).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #135 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