Nicola vs Stephanie
Nicola 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.
New Zealand · Girls
In 1996, Nicola was ranked #91 and Stephanie #22 among girls in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Girls
In 1998, Nicola was ranked #93 and Stephanie #25 among girls in New South Wales, Australia.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2020, Nicola was ranked #397 and Stephanie #333 among girls in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Girls
In 2024, Nicola was ranked #790 and Stephanie #541 among girls in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Nicola was ranked #898 and Stephanie #631 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2025, Nicola was ranked #4201 and Stephanie #719 among girls in England and Wales.
Nicola and Stephanie over time
Nicola and Stephanie appear together in 4 published lists, across 147 years of shared records. Neither was ahead in more lists than the other.
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.
Nicola reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, and Stephanie 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 1987, Stephanie moved ahead of Nicola in New Zealand · Girls — #13 and #25 the year before became #22 and #18.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Nicola and Stephanie changed places 6 times in Northern Ireland · Girls between 1997 and 2020, ending at #397 and #333.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 39 shared years in New Zealand · Girls, Nicola and Stephanie averaged 40.2 places apart, ending at #91 and #22.
- Longest-running competitions
Nicola and Stephanie were both ranked in England and Wales · Girls for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #4201 and #719.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Girls within 2 years — Nicola #87 in 1996, Stephanie #48 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls59 shared years, 1964–2024
Nicola held the stronger position in 42 of those years, Stephanie in 16.
Highest recorded here: Nicola #17 in 1986, Stephanie #23 in 1990.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Nicola #898, Stephanie #631.
New Zealand · Girls39 shared years, 1958–1996
Nicola held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Stephanie in 10.
Highest recorded here: Nicola #2 in 1975, Stephanie #11 in 1991.
The order changed in 1987: Stephanie moved ahead. In 1986 they stood at #13 and #25; by 1987 that had become #22 and #18.
Most recent shared year, 1996: Nicola #91, Stephanie #22.
England and Wales · Girls30 shared years, 1996–2025
Nicola held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Stephanie in 24.
Highest recorded here: Nicola #87 in 1996, Stephanie #48 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Nicola #4201, Stephanie #719.
Northern Ireland · Girls19 shared years, 1997–2020
Nicola held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Stephanie in 11.
Highest recorded here: Nicola #72 in 1997, Stephanie #50 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2020: Nicola #397, Stephanie #333.
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 | Nicola | Stephanie |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | The feminine form of Nicholas, from the Greek elements 'nike' (victory) and 'laos' (people). | The feminine form of Stephen, from Greek Stephanos meaning 'crown, wreath'. |
| Origin | Greek, feminine form | Greek |
| Pronunciation | /ˈnɪk.ə.lə/ | /ˈstɛf.ə.ni/ |
| Syllables | 3 | 3 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | England and Wales · Girls #4201 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Girls #294 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 65/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 70/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Nicola is recorded with a Greek, feminine form origin, while Stephanie is recorded with a Greek origin.
- Nicola and Stephanie both have 3 syllables.
- Nicola's recorded meaning differs from Stephanie's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Nicola
Popularity journey
First recorded1957
First recorded at #97 among girls in New Zealand in 1957 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New Zealand · Girls
Highest recorded1957–1996
Highest recorded position: #2 among girls in New Zealand, in 1975 (recorded 1957–1996).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #4201 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · 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 #719 among girls in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Girls