Jonathan vs Stephen
Jonathan 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 Zealand · Boys
In 1997, Jonathan was ranked #50 and Stephen #95 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1997, Jonathan was ranked #58 and Stephen #100 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Boys
In 2001, Jonathan was ranked #72 and Stephen #522 among boys in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Jonathan was ranked #223 and Stephen #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Jonathan was ranked #296 and Stephen #716 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Jonathan was ranked #305 and Stephen #305 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Jonathan was ranked #352 and Stephen #535 among boys in Scotland.
Jonathan and Stephen over time
Jonathan and Stephen appear together in 6 published lists, across 231 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
The order between them changed and held in 4 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Stephen reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Jonathan 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 South Wales, Australia · Boys, Jonathan moved into the top 50 at #50 in 1992 as Stephen fell out of it to #55, having been #47 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1992, Jonathan moved ahead of Stephen in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #56 and #47 the year before became #50 and #55.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Jonathan and Stephen changed places 15 times in Northern Ireland · Boys between 1997 and 2024, ending at #305 and #305.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 35 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Jonathan and Stephen averaged 37.2 places apart, ending at #58 and #100.
- Mirrored each other
Over 36 shared years in Norway · Boys, Jonathan rose about as far as Stephen fell — from #371 and #241 in 1949 to #72 and #522 in 2001.
- Longest-running competitions
Jonathan and Stephen were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #296 and #716.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Jonathan #39 in 1996, Stephen #60 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Jonathan held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Stephen in 56.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #18 in 1981, Stephen #4 in 1983.
The order changed in 2022: Jonathan moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #204 and #193; by 2022 that had become #192 and #205.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jonathan #223, Stephen #232.
New Zealand · Boys40 shared years, 1957–1997
Jonathan held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Stephen in 22.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #15 in 1982, Stephen #5 in 1959.
The order changed in 1980: Jonathan moved ahead. In 1979 they stood at #33 and #27; by 1980 that had become #18 and #27.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Jonathan #50, Stephen #95.
Norway · Boys36 shared years, 1949–2001
Jonathan held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Stephen in 14.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #71 in 2000, Stephen #232 in 1958.
The order changed in 1980: Jonathan moved ahead. In 1979 they stood at #524 and #348; by 1980 that had become #278 and #393.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Jonathan #72, Stephen #522.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys35 shared years, 1963–1997
Jonathan held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Stephen in 29.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #41 in 1980, Stephen #7 in 1963.
The order changed in 1992: Jonathan moved ahead. In 1991 they stood at #56 and #47; by 1992 that had become #50 and #55.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Jonathan #58, Stephen #100.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Jonathan held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Stephen in 0.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #39 in 1996, Stephen #60 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Jonathan #296, Stephen #716.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Jonathan held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Stephen in 11.
Highest recorded here: Jonathan #20 in 1998, Stephen #21 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Jonathan #305, Stephen #305.
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 | Jonathan | 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 | 3 | 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 | Norway · Boys #93 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Stephen has a recorded origin (Greek); Jonathan does not have one recorded yet.
- Jonathan has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Stephen.
- A meaning is recorded for Stephen; Jonathan 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 Jonathan 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
Jonathan
Popularity journey
First recorded1949
First recorded at #371 among boys in Norway in 1949 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1957–2013
Highest recorded position: #15 among boys in New Zealand, in 1982 (recorded 1957–2013).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #296 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
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 #716 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys