Patrick vs Stephen
Patrick and Stephen compared 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 · Boys
In 2025, Patrick was ranked #25 and Stephen #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Patrick was ranked #26 and Stephen #305 among boys in Northern Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1997, Patrick was ranked #37 and Stephen #100 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1997, Patrick was ranked #53 and Stephen #95 among boys in New Zealand.
Norway · Boys
In 2001, Patrick was ranked #78 and Stephen #522 among boys in Norway.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Patrick was ranked #125 and Stephen #535 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Patrick was ranked #134 and Stephen #716 among boys in England and Wales.
Patrick and Stephen over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Patrick and Stephen over time
Patrick and Stephen appear together in 6 published lists, across 251 years of shared records. Patrick held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Stephen 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, Patrick 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 1998, Patrick moved ahead of Stephen in England and Wales · Boys — #67 and #66 the year before became #66 and #70.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Patrick and Stephen changed places 7 times in Norway · Boys between 1949 and 2001, ending at #78 and #522.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 46 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Patrick and Stephen averaged 38.7 places apart, ending at #37 and #100.
- Mirrored each other
Over 41 shared years in Norway · Boys, Patrick rose about as far as Stephen fell — from #358 and #241 in 1949 to #78 and #522 in 2001.
- Longest-running competitions
Patrick and Stephen were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #134 and #716.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Patrick #66 in 1996, Stephen #60 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #66 and #60 in England and Wales · Boys, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #134 and #716.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Patrick held the stronger position in 51 of those years, Stephen in 10.
Highest recorded here: Patrick #2 in 1964, Stephen #4 in 1983.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Patrick #25, Stephen #232.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys46 shared years, 1952–1997
Patrick held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Stephen in 36.
Highest recorded here: Patrick #30 in 1994, Stephen #3 in 1955.
The order changed in 1988: Patrick moved ahead. In 1987 they stood at #40 and #37; by 1988 that had become #38 and #39.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Patrick #37, Stephen #100.
New Zealand · Boys44 shared years, 1954–1997
Patrick held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Stephen in 37.
Highest recorded here: Patrick #45 in 1967, Stephen #5 in 1958.
The order changed in 1991: Patrick moved ahead. In 1990 they stood at #51 and #50; by 1991 that had become #47 and #49.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Patrick #53, Stephen #95.
Norway · Boys41 shared years, 1949–2001
Patrick held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Stephen in 13.
Highest recorded here: Patrick #67 in 1989, Stephen #241 in 1949.
The order changed in 1978: Patrick moved ahead. In 1977 they stood at #283 and #275; by 1978 that had become #260 and #348.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Patrick #78, Stephen #522.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Patrick held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Stephen in 2.
Highest recorded here: Patrick #66 in 1996, Stephen #60 in 1996.
The order changed in 1998: Patrick moved ahead. In 1997 they stood at #67 and #66; by 1998 that had become #66 and #70.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Patrick #134, Stephen #716.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Patrick held the stronger position in 27 of those years, Stephen in 1.
Highest recorded here: Patrick #18 in 2003, Stephen #21 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Patrick #26, 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.
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 Patrick
Pairs where Patrick shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Patrick vs Ross
In 1996 they stood at #66 and #68 in England and Wales · Boys, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #134 and #2014.
Patrick · Ross · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Patrick vs Shane
In 1996 they stood at #66 and #74 in England and Wales · Boys, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #134 and #1153.
Patrick · Shane · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Patrick vs Steven
In 1996 they stood at #66 and #73 in England and Wales · Boys, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #134 and #976.
Patrick · Steven · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Patrick vs Paul
In 1996 they stood at #66 and #72 in England and Wales · Boys, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #134 and #602.
Patrick · Paul · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other comparisons involving Stephen
Pairs where Stephen shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Stephen vs Ross
In 1996 they stood at #60 and #68 in England and Wales · Boys, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #716 and #2014.
Stephen · Ross · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Stephen vs Henry
In 1996 they stood at #60 and #58 in England and Wales · Boys, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #716 and #13.
Stephen · Henry · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Stephen vs Max
In 1996 they stood at #60 and #56 in England and Wales · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #716 and #48.
Stephen · Max · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Stephen vs Dylan
In 1996 they stood at #60 and #57 in England and Wales · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #716 and #72.
Stephen · Dylan · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — started together, ended far apart.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs from England and Wales lists
Pairs measured inside England and Wales's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- Hayley vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #57 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #478 and #4867.
Hayley · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Natalie vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #42 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #634 and #4867.
Natalie · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jennifer vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #54 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #650 and #4867.
Jennifer · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Lily vs Nicola
In 1996 they stood at #85 and #87 in England and Wales · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #2 and #4201.
Lily · Nicola · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Freya vs Jordan
In 1996 they stood at #118 and #126 in England and Wales · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #6 and #4201.
Freya · Jordan · 29 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Nicola vs Poppy
In 1996 they stood at #87 and #92 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #4201 and #7.
Nicola · Poppy · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Nicola vs Sophia
In 1996 they stood at #87 and #95 in England and Wales · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #4201 and #13.
Nicola · Sophia · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Mia vs Jordan
In 1996 they stood at #116 and #126 in England and Wales · Girls, 10 places apart; by 2025 they were #21 and #4201.
Mia · Jordan · 29 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Patrick | Stephen |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | From Latin Patricius, meaning 'nobleman, patrician'. Adopted by Saint Patrick (originally named Sucat), a Romanized Briton who Christianized Ireland and became its patron saint. | 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 | Latin | Greek |
| Pronunciation | /ˈpæt.ɹɪk/ | /ˈstiː.vən/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Pádraig, Pádraic | Steven, Stefan, Stephan |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #25 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | high | high |
What the data shows
- Patrick is recorded with a Latin origin, while Stephen is recorded with a Greek origin.
- Patrick and Stephen both have 2 syllables.
- Patrick'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.
How each name got here
Patrick
Popularity journey
First recorded1948
First recorded at #315 among boys in Norway in 1948 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1964–2025
Highest recorded position: #2 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 1964 (recorded 1964–2025).
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #134 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · 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 #716 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys