Joel vs Steven
Joel 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, Joel was ranked #42 and Steven #84 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1997, Joel was ranked #72 and Steven #77 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Joel was ranked #109 and Steven #414 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2017, Joel was ranked #153 and Steven #487 among boys in Norway.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Joel was ranked #209 and Steven #800 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Joel was ranked #278 and Steven #307 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Joel was ranked #509 and Steven #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Joel and Steven over time
Joel and Steven appear together in 6 published lists, across 169 years of shared records. Steven held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Joel in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 6 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 6 of those lists, and Joel 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 1997, Joel moved ahead of Steven in England and Wales · Boys — #75 and #73 the year before became #75 and #79.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Joel and Steven changed places 7 times in Norway · Boys between 1969 and 2017, ending at #153 and #487.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 25 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Joel and Steven averaged 21.2 places apart, ending at #42 and #84.
- Longest-running competitions
Joel and Steven were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 39 years, from 1969 to 2017, ending at #153 and #487.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #75 and #73 in England and Wales · Boys, 2 places apart; by 2024 they were #209 and #800.
List by list
Norway · Boys39 shared years, 1969–2017
Joel held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Steven in 20.
Highest recorded here: Joel #153 in 2017, Steven #224 in 1983.
The order changed in 1999: Joel moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #372 and #335; by 1999 that had become #385 and #392.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Joel #153, Steven #487.
Republic of Ireland · Boys34 shared years, 1973–2025
Joel held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Steven in 25.
Highest recorded here: Joel #185 in 2005, Steven #61 in 1986.
The order changed in 2025: Joel moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #430 and #302; by 2025 that had become #509 and #829.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Joel #509, Steven #829.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Joel held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Steven in 1.
Highest recorded here: Joel #62 in 2001, Steven #73 in 1996.
The order changed in 1997: Joel moved ahead. In 1996 they stood at #75 and #73; by 1997 that had become #75 and #79.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Joel #209, Steven #800.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys25 shared years, 1976–2000
Joel held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Steven in 13.
Highest recorded here: Joel #27 in 1987, Steven #15 in 1976.
The order changed in 1992: Joel moved ahead. In 1991 they stood at #35 and #34; by 1992 that had become #42 and #43.
Most recent shared year, 2000: Joel #42, Steven #84.
Northern Ireland · Boys24 shared years, 1997–2022
Joel held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Steven in 2.
Highest recorded here: Joel #38 in 2003, Steven #54 in 1998.
The order changed in 1999: Joel moved ahead. In 1998 they stood at #87 and #54; by 1999 that had become #71 and #82.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Joel #109, Steven #414.
New Zealand · Boys18 shared years, 1980–1997
Joel held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Steven in 14.
Highest recorded here: Joel #48 in 1985, Steven #24 in 1981.
The order changed in 1994: Joel moved ahead. In 1993 they stood at #63 and #51; by 1994 that had become #51 and #72.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Joel #72, 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 | Joel | Steven |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | ||
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | 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 | Norway · Boys #178 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #829 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Joel has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Steven.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Joel
Popularity journey
First recorded1969
First recorded at #523 among boys in Norway in 1969 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1976–2010
Highest recorded position: #27 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1987 (recorded 1976–2010).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #178 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · 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