Nathan vs Steven
Nathan 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 2000, Nathan was ranked #18 and Steven #84 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1997, Nathan was ranked #20 and Steven #77 among boys in New Zealand.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Nathan was ranked #62 and Steven #307 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Nathan was ranked #71 and Steven #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Nathan was ranked #85 and Steven #414 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Nathan was ranked #88 and Steven #800 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2017, Nathan was ranked #236 and Steven #487 among boys in Norway.
Nathan and Steven over time
Nathan and Steven appear together in 6 published lists, across 184 years of shared records. Nathan held the stronger position in more years in 6 of them, Steven in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 4 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Steven reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 6 of those lists, and Nathan 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 1977, Nathan moved ahead of Steven in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #17 and #15 the year before became #14 and #18.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Nathan and Steven changed places 7 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1969 and 1997, ending at #20 and #77.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 32 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Nathan and Steven averaged 26.9 places apart, ending at #18 and #84.
- Longest-running competitions
Nathan and Steven were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 32 years, from 1969 to 2000, ending at #18 and #84.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in Northern Ireland · Boys within 2 years — Nathan #15 in 2000, Steven #54 in 1998.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys53 shared years, 1968–2025
Nathan held the stronger position in 31 of those years, Steven in 21.
Highest recorded here: Nathan #26 in 1999, Steven #57 in 1990.
The order changed in 1994: Nathan moved ahead. In 1993 they stood at #67 and #67; by 1994 that had become #64 and #72.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Nathan #71, Steven #829.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys32 shared years, 1969–2000
Nathan held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Steven in 8.
Highest recorded here: Nathan #10 in 1981, Steven #15 in 1976.
The order changed in 1977: Nathan moved ahead. In 1976 they stood at #17 and #15; by 1977 that had become #14 and #18.
Most recent shared year, 2000: Nathan #18, Steven #84.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Nathan held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Steven in 0.
Highest recorded here: Nathan #24 in 2002, Steven #73 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Nathan #88, Steven #800.
New Zealand · Boys28 shared years, 1969–1997
Nathan held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Steven in 11.
Highest recorded here: Nathan #14 in 1995, Steven #15 in 1969.
The order changed in 1988: Nathan moved ahead. In 1987 they stood at #34 and #30; by 1988 that had become #31 and #35.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Nathan #20, Steven #77.
Northern Ireland · Boys24 shared years, 1997–2022
Nathan held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Steven in 0.
Highest recorded here: Nathan #15 in 2000, Steven #54 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Nathan #85, Steven #414.
Norway · Boys18 shared years, 1982–2017
Nathan held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Steven in 7.
Highest recorded here: Nathan #236 in 2017, Steven #264 in 1990.
The order changed in 2005: Nathan moved ahead. In 2004 they stood at #459 and #427; by 2005 that had become #397 and #442.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Nathan #236, Steven #487.
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 | Nathan | Steven |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Commonly interpreted as 'he gave' or 'he has given'. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈneɪθən/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| 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 · Boys #71 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #829 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Nathan has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew); Steven does not have one recorded yet.
- Nathan and Steven both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Nathan; Steven doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Nathan
Popularity journey
First recorded1968
First recorded at #267 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1968 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1969–2018
Highest recorded position: #10 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1981 (recorded 1969–2018).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #344 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · 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 #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys