Laura vs Stephanie
Laura and Stephaniecompared 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 · Girls
In 2005, Laura was ranked #69 and Stephanie #99 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 2009, Laura was ranked #90 and Stephanie #84 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Girls
In 2018, Laura was ranked #111 and Stephanie #527 among girls in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Laura was ranked #112 and Stephanie #294 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Laura was ranked #237 and Stephanie #391 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Laura was ranked #303 and Stephanie #719 among girls in England and Wales.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Laura was ranked #351 and Stephanie #541 among girls in Scotland.
Laura and Stephanie over time
Laura and Stephanie appear together in 6 published lists, across 210 years of shared records. Laura held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Stephanie in 0.
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.
Stephanie reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Laura 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 moved ahead of the other
In 2008, Stephanie moved ahead of Laura in New South Wales, Australia · Girls — #75 and #86 the year before became #74 and #60.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Laura and Stephanie changed places 5 times in New South Wales, Australia · Girls between 1976 and 2009, ending at #90 and #84.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 34 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Girls, Laura and Stephanie averaged 10.5 places apart, ending at #90 and #84.
- Longest-running competitions
Laura and Stephanie were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #303 and #719.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Laura #17 in 1996, Stephanie #48 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Laura held the stronger position in 61 of those years, Stephanie in 1.
Highest recorded here: Laura #2 in 1985, Stephanie #23 in 1990.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Laura #112, Stephanie #294.
Norway · Girls38 shared years, 1966–2018
Laura held the stronger position in 37 of those years, Stephanie in 1.
Highest recorded here: Laura #104 in 2017, Stephanie #178 in 1989.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Laura #111, Stephanie #527.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls34 shared years, 1976–2009
Laura held the stronger position in 23 of those years, Stephanie in 11.
Highest recorded here: Laura #9 in 1994, Stephanie #5 in 1994.
The order changed in 2008: Stephanie moved ahead. In 2007 they stood at #75 and #86; by 2008 that had become #74 and #60.
Most recent shared year, 2009: Laura #90, Stephanie #84.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Laura held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Stephanie in 0.
Highest recorded here: Laura #17 in 1996, Stephanie #48 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Laura #303, Stephanie #719.
New Zealand · Girls24 shared years, 1978–2005
Laura held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Stephanie in 4.
Highest recorded here: Laura #8 in 1995, Stephanie #11 in 1991.
The order changed in 1992: Laura moved ahead. In 1991 they stood at #13 and #11; by 1992 that had become #9 and #16.
Most recent shared year, 2005: Laura #69, Stephanie #99.
Northern Ireland · Girls22 shared years, 1997–2023
Laura held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Stephanie in 0.
Highest recorded here: Laura #13 in 1997, Stephanie #50 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Laura #237, Stephanie #391.
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 | Laura | Stephanie |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | From Latin 'laurus' meaning 'laurel' — laurel wreaths honoured victors in ancient Rome. Also the subject of 14th-century Italian poet Petrarch's poems. | The feminine form of Stephen, from Greek Stephanos meaning 'crown, wreath'. |
| Origin | Latin | Greek |
| Pronunciation | /ˈlɔɹ.ə/ | /ˈstɛf.ə.ni/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 3 |
| 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 | Republic of Ireland · Girls #112 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #294 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 65/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 70/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Laura is recorded with a Latin origin, while Stephanie is recorded with a Greek origin.
- Laura has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Stephanie.
- Laura's recorded meaning differs from Stephanie's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Laura
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #313 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1985 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #303 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls
Stephanie
Popularity journey
First recorded1953
First recorded at #97 among girls in New South Wales, Australia in 1953 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Highest recorded1953–2010
Highest recorded position: #5 among girls in New South Wales, Australia, in 1994 (recorded 1953–2010).
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #719 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls