Nessa vs Stephanie
Nessa 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.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2025, Nessa was ranked #239 and Stephanie #294 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2020, Nessa was ranked #397 and Stephanie #333 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2024, Nessa was ranked #3695 and Stephanie #811 among girls in England and Wales.
Nessa and Stephanie over time
Nessa and Stephanie appear together in 2 published lists, across 74 years of shared records. Stephanie held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Nessa in 0.
The order between them changed and held in one 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.
- Longest-running competitions
Nessa and Stephanie were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 62 years, from 1964 to 2025, ending at #239 and #294.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls62 shared years, 1964–2025
Nessa held the stronger position in 15 of those years, Stephanie in 47.
Highest recorded here: Nessa #127 in 1975, Stephanie #23 in 1990.
The order changed in 2012: Nessa moved ahead. In 2011 they stood at #258 and #220; by 2012 that had become #250 and #295.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Nessa #239, Stephanie #294.
England and Wales · Girls12 shared years, 2007–2024
Nessa held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Stephanie in 12.
Highest recorded here: Nessa #2163 in 2020, Stephanie #212 in 2007.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Nessa #3695, Stephanie #811.
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.
Where to go next
Comparisons that share a name, a rule or a published list with this one. Each is an existing comparison page with its own evidence — nothing here says these pairs are alike.
Other comparisons involving Stephanie
Pairs where Stephanie shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Stephanie vs Courtney
In 1996 they stood at #48 and #52 in England and Wales · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2024 they were #811 and #1894.
Stephanie · Courtney · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Stephanie vs Ashleigh
In 1996 they stood at #48 and #58 in England and Wales · Girls, 10 places apart; by 2024 they were #811 and #1819.
Stephanie · Ashleigh · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Stephanie
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #48 in England and Wales · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2024 they were #39 and #811.
Ella · Stephanie · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Stephanie vs Jasmine
In 1996 they stood at #48 and #55 in England and Wales · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2024 they were #811 and #92.
Stephanie · Jasmine · 29 shared years, 1996–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Nessa | 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 | 2 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Girls #239 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #294 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 65/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 70/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Stephanie has a recorded origin (Greek); Nessa does not have one recorded yet.
- Nessa has 2 syllables, compared with 3 for Stephanie.
- A meaning is recorded for Stephanie; Nessa doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Nessa
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #300 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #127 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1975 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #239 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