Nicholas vs Stephen
Nicholas 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, Nicholas was ranked #9 and Stephen #100 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1997, Nicholas was ranked #19 and Stephen #95 among boys in New Zealand.
Norway · Boys
In 2001, Nicholas was ranked #170 and Stephen #522 among boys in Norway.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Nicholas was ranked #191 and Stephen #535 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Nicholas was ranked #198 and Stephen #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Nicholas was ranked #211 and Stephen #651 among boys in England and Wales.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Nicholas was ranked #305 and Stephen #305 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Nicholas and Stephen over time
Nicholas and Stephen appear together in 6 published lists, across 243 years of shared records. Stephen held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Nicholas in 2.
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.
Stephen reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, Nicholas 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 1979, Nicholas moved ahead of Stephen in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #29 and #25 the year before became #26 and #28.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Nicholas and Stephen changed places 11 times in Norway · Boys between 1955 and 2001, ending at #170 and #522.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 43 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Nicholas and Stephen averaged 40.4 places apart, ending at #9 and #100.
- Longest-running competitions
Nicholas and Stephen were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 43 years, from 1955 to 1997, ending at #9 and #100.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Nicholas #52 in 1996, Stephen #60 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #52 and #60 in England and Wales · Boys, 8 places apart; by 2024 they were #211 and #651.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Nicholas held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Stephen in 54.
Highest recorded here: Nicholas #58 in 1964, Stephen #4 in 1983.
The order changed in 2022: Nicholas moved ahead. In 2021 they stood at #232 and #193; by 2022 that had become #154 and #205.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Nicholas #198, Stephen #232.
New Zealand · Boys44 shared years, 1954–1997
Nicholas held the stronger position in 21 of those years, Stephen in 23.
Highest recorded here: Nicholas #8 in 1983, Stephen #5 in 1958.
The order changed in 1978: Nicholas moved ahead. In 1977 they stood at #18 and #16; by 1978 that had become #19 and #24.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Nicholas #19, Stephen #95.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys43 shared years, 1955–1997
Nicholas held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Stephen in 24.
Highest recorded here: Nicholas #7 in 1996, Stephen #3 in 1955.
The order changed in 1979: Nicholas moved ahead. In 1978 they stood at #29 and #25; by 1979 that had become #26 and #28.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Nicholas #9, Stephen #100.
Norway · Boys37 shared years, 1955–2001
Nicholas held the stronger position in 20 of those years, Stephen in 17.
Highest recorded here: Nicholas #169 in 1995, Stephen #210 in 1956.
The order changed in 1984: Nicholas moved ahead. In 1983 they stood at #365 and #323; by 1984 that had become #261 and #392.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Nicholas #170, Stephen #522.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Nicholas held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Stephen in 0.
Highest recorded here: Nicholas #52 in 1996, Stephen #60 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Nicholas #211, Stephen #651.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Nicholas held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Stephen in 25.
Highest recorded here: Nicholas #104 in 2000, Stephen #21 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Nicholas #305, Stephen #305.
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 | Nicholas | Stephen |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | From Greek Nikolaos, combining 'nike' (victory) and 'laos' (people) — 'victory of the people'. Associated with Saint Nicholas, a 4th-century bishop and the inspiration for Santa Claus. | 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 | Greek | Greek |
| Pronunciation | /ˈnɪk.ə.ləs/ | /ˈstiː.vən/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Steven, Stefan, Stephan |
| 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 #198 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 76/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Both Nicholas and Stephen share a recorded Greek origin.
- Nicholas has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Stephen.
- Nicholas's recorded meaning differs from Stephen's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Nicholas 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
Nicholas
Popularity journey
First recorded1951
First recorded at #384 among boys in Norway in 1951 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1955–2024
Highest recorded position: #6 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2002 (recorded 1955–2024).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #325 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · 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