Lois vs Stephanie
Lois 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 1956, Lois was ranked #100 and Stephanie #89 among girls in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2023, Lois was ranked #237 and Stephanie #391 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Lois was ranked #718 and Stephanie #294 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Lois was ranked #295 and Stephanie #541 among girls in Scotland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Lois was ranked #374 and Stephanie #811 among girls in England and Wales.
Lois and Stephanie over time
Lois and Stephanie appear together in 3 published lists, across 69 years of shared records. Lois held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Stephanie 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.
Stephanie reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Lois 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 2004, Lois moved ahead of Stephanie in England and Wales · Girls — #139 and #106 the year before became #133 and #157.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Lois and Stephanie changed places 6 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1994 and 2025, ending at #718 and #294.
List by list
England and Wales · Girls29 shared years, 1996–2024
Lois held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Stephanie in 8.
Highest recorded here: Lois #109 in 2008, Stephanie #48 in 1996.
The order changed in 2004: Lois moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #139 and #106; by 2004 that had become #133 and #157.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Lois #374, Stephanie #811.
Northern Ireland · Girls22 shared years, 1997–2023
Lois held the stronger position in 16 of those years, Stephanie in 6.
Highest recorded here: Lois #99 in 2005, Stephanie #50 in 1997.
The order changed in 2003: Lois moved ahead. In 2002 they stood at #128 and #100; by 2003 that had become #147 and #166.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Lois #237, Stephanie #391.
Republic of Ireland · Girls18 shared years, 1994–2025
Lois held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Stephanie in 15.
Highest recorded here: Lois #474 in 2018, Stephanie #39 in 1994.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Lois #718, Stephanie #294.
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 | Lois | Stephanie |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | The feminine form of Stephen, from Greek Stephanos meaning 'crown, wreath'. |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Greek |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈstɛf.ə.ni/ |
| Syllables | 1 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| 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 · Girls #718 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #294 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 65/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 70/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Stephanie has a recorded origin (Greek); Lois does not have one recorded yet.
- Lois has 1 syllable, compared with 3 for Stephanie.
- A meaning is recorded for Stephanie; Lois doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Lois
Popularity journey
First recorded1954
First recorded at #82 among girls in New Zealand in 1954 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Girls
Highest recorded1954–1957
Highest recorded position: #82 among girls in New Zealand, in 1954 (recorded 1954–1957).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #718 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · 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 #294 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Girls