Josh vs Stephen
Josh 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.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Josh was ranked #177 and Stephen #305 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Josh was ranked #188 and Stephen #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Josh was ranked #218 and Stephen #535 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Josh was ranked #857 and Stephen #651 among boys in England and Wales.
Josh and Stephen over time
Josh and Stephen appear together in 3 published lists, across 93 years of shared records. Josh held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Stephen in 1.
The order between them changed and held in 2 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, and Josh 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 2021, Josh moved ahead of Stephen in Northern Ireland · Boys — #152 and #152 the year before became #176 and #226.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Josh and Stephen changed places 6 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #857 and #651.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Josh and Stephen averaged 53.3 places apart, ending at #857 and #651.
- Longest-running competitions
Josh and Stephen were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Boys for 36 years, from 1989 to 2025, ending at #188 and #232.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys36 shared years, 1989–2025
Josh held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Stephen in 20.
Highest recorded here: Josh #56 in 2003, Stephen #4 in 1990.
The order changed in 2014: Josh moved ahead. In 2013 they stood at #90 and #86; by 2014 that had become #84 and #120.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Josh #188, Stephen #232.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Josh held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Stephen in 11.
Highest recorded here: Josh #84 in 2002, Stephen #60 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Josh #857, Stephen #651.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Josh held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Stephen in 7.
Highest recorded here: Josh #38 in 2005, Stephen #21 in 1998.
The order changed in 2021: Josh moved ahead. In 2020 they stood at #152 and #152; by 2021 that had become #176 and #226.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Josh #177, 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 | Josh | 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 | 1 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Steven, Stefan, Stephan |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #188 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Stephen has a recorded origin (Greek); Josh does not have one recorded yet.
- Josh has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Stephen.
- A meaning is recorded for Stephen; Josh doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Josh 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
Josh
Popularity journey
First recorded1989
First recorded at #278 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1989 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #38 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2005 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #188 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