Mathew vs Stephen
Mathew 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.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1997, Mathew was ranked #84 and Stephen #100 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1997, Mathew was ranked #89 and Stephen #95 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2019, Mathew was ranked #418 and Stephen #226 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Mathew was ranked #829 and Stephen #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Mathew was ranked #1517 and Stephen #651 among boys in England and Wales.
Mathew and Stephen over time
Mathew and Stephen appear together in 5 published lists, across 154 years of shared records. Stephen held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Mathew 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.
Stephen reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Mathew 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 1985, Mathew moved ahead of Stephen in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #33 and #28 the year before became #29 and #32.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Mathew and Stephen changed places 5 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1970 and 1997, ending at #89 and #95.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 31 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Mathew and Stephen averaged 17.9 places apart, ending at #84 and #100.
- Longest-running competitions
Mathew and Stephen were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 31 years, from 1966 to 1997, ending at #84 and #100.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Mathew #115 in 1996, Stephen #60 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys57 shared years, 1964–2025
Mathew held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Stephen in 57.
Highest recorded here: Mathew #145 in 1964, Stephen #4 in 1983.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Mathew #829, Stephen #232.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys31 shared years, 1966–1997
Mathew held the stronger position in 13 of those years, Stephen in 18.
Highest recorded here: Mathew #29 in 1985, Stephen #9 in 1966.
The order changed in 1985: Mathew moved ahead. In 1984 they stood at #33 and #28; by 1985 that had become #29 and #32.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Mathew #84, Stephen #100.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Mathew held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Stephen in 29.
Highest recorded here: Mathew #115 in 1996, Stephen #60 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Mathew #1517, Stephen #651.
New Zealand · Boys28 shared years, 1970–1997
Mathew held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Stephen in 24.
Highest recorded here: Mathew #37 in 1985, Stephen #7 in 1970.
The order changed in 1996: Mathew moved ahead. In 1995 they stood at #90 and #80; by 1996 that had become #85 and #87.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Mathew #89, Stephen #95.
Northern Ireland · Boys9 shared years, 1998–2019
Mathew held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Stephen in 9.
Highest recorded here: Mathew #190 in 1998, Stephen #21 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2019: Mathew #418, Stephen #226.
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 | Mathew | 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 | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #829 (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); Mathew does not have one recorded yet.
- Mathew and Stephen both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Stephen; Mathew doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Mathew 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
Mathew
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #145 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1966–2000
Highest recorded position: #29 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1985 (recorded 1966–2000).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #829 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