Manuel vs Stephen
Manuel 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.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Manuel was ranked #577 and Stephen #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Norway · Boys
In 2000, Manuel was ranked #561 and Stephen #527 among boys in Norway.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Manuel was ranked #619 and Stephen #535 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Manuel was ranked #898 and Stephen #651 among boys in England and Wales.
Manuel and Stephen over time
Manuel and Stephen appear together in 3 published lists, across 76 years of shared records. Stephen held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Manuel in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
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
Manuel and Stephen changed places 14 times in Norway · Boys between 1952 and 2000, ending at #561 and #527.
- Longest-running competitions
Manuel and Stephen were both ranked in Norway · Boys for 37 years, from 1952 to 2000, ending at #561 and #527.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Norway · Boys within 2 years — Manuel #269 in 1954, Stephen #210 in 1956.
List by list
Norway · Boys37 shared years, 1952–2000
Manuel held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Stephen in 30.
Highest recorded here: Manuel #269 in 1954, Stephen #210 in 1956.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2000: Manuel #561, Stephen #527.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Manuel held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Stephen in 29.
Highest recorded here: Manuel #898 in 2024, Stephen #60 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Manuel #898, Stephen #651.
Republic of Ireland · Boys10 shared years, 1988–2025
Manuel held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Stephen in 10.
Highest recorded here: Manuel #319 in 1988, Stephen #4 in 1988.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Manuel #577, Stephen #232.
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 | Manuel | 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 | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Steven, Stefan, Stephan |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE, NO | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #577 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Stephen has a recorded origin (Greek); Manuel does not have one recorded yet.
- Manuel and Stephen both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Stephen; Manuel doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-SCT, IE, NO.
- The available evidence gives Manuel 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
Manuel
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #328 among boys in Norway in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2016
Highest recorded position: #269 among boys in Norway, in 1954 (recorded 1952–2016).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #577 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