Laurence vs Steven
Laurence 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 1956, Laurence was ranked #98 and Steven #25 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2014, Laurence was ranked #346 and Steven #264 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Laurence was ranked #582 and Steven #302 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Laurence was ranked #401 and Steven #976 among boys in England and Wales.
Laurence and Steven over time
Laurence and Steven appear together in 2 published lists, across 90 years of shared records. Steven held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Laurence 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.
Each reached its own highest recorded position first in 1 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.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Laurence and Steven changed places 7 times in Republic of Ireland · Boys between 1964 and 2024, ending at #582 and #302.
- Longest-running competitions
Laurence and Steven were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #401 and #976.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Laurence #161 in 1997, Steven #73 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys60 shared years, 1964–2024
Laurence held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Steven in 39.
Highest recorded here: Laurence #47 in 1968, Steven #57 in 1990.
The order changed in 2024: Steven moved ahead. In 2023 they stood at #396 and #516; by 2024 that had become #582 and #302.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Laurence #582, Steven #302.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Laurence held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Steven in 17.
Highest recorded here: Laurence #161 in 1997, Steven #73 in 1996.
The order changed in 2013: Laurence moved ahead. In 2012 they stood at #393 and #332; by 2013 that had become #373 and #388.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Laurence #401, Steven #976.
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 | Laurence | 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 | Not yet recorded | |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Boys #401 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #829 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Laurence has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Steven.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Laurence
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #86 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2024
Highest recorded position: #47 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1968 (recorded 1964–2024).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #401 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · 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 #976 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys