Patrick vs Steven
Patrick 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.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Patrick was ranked #25 and Steven #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 2000, Patrick was ranked #38 and Steven #84 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1997, Patrick was ranked #53 and Steven #77 among boys in New Zealand.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Patrick was ranked #53 and Steven #414 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Patrick was ranked #120 and Steven #800 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Patrick was ranked #125 and Steven #307 among boys in Scotland.
Norway · Boys
In 2017, Patrick was ranked #186 and Steven #487 among boys in Norway.
Patrick and Steven over time
Patrick and Steven appear together in 6 published lists, across 261 years of shared records. Patrick held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Steven in 2.
The order between them changed and held in 3 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 3 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 1992, Patrick moved ahead of Steven in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #38 and #34 the year before became #36 and #43.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Patrick and Steven changed places 7 times in Norway · Boys between 1957 and 2017, ending at #186 and #487.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 49 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Patrick and Steven averaged 33.8 places apart, ending at #38 and #84.
- Mirrored each other
Over 54 shared years in Norway · Boys, Patrick rose about as far as Steven fell — from #441 and #307 in 1957 to #186 and #487 in 2017.
- Longest-running competitions
Patrick and Steven were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 49 years, from 1952 to 2000, ending at #38 and #84.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Patrick #66 in 1996, Steven #73 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #66 and #73 in England and Wales · Boys, 7 places apart; by 2024 they were #120 and #800.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys61 shared years, 1964–2025
Patrick held the stronger position in 61 of those years, Steven in 0.
Highest recorded here: Patrick #2 in 1964, Steven #57 in 1990.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Patrick #25, Steven #829.
Norway · Boys54 shared years, 1957–2017
Patrick held the stronger position in 46 of those years, Steven in 8.
Highest recorded here: Patrick #67 in 1989, Steven #224 in 1983.
The order changed in 1984: Patrick moved ahead. In 1983 they stood at #265 and #224; by 1984 that had become #147 and #258.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Patrick #186, Steven #487.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys49 shared years, 1952–2000
Patrick held the stronger position in 10 of those years, Steven in 39.
Highest recorded here: Patrick #30 in 1994, Steven #12 in 1961.
The order changed in 1992: Patrick moved ahead. In 1991 they stood at #38 and #34; by 1992 that had become #36 and #43.
Most recent shared year, 2000: Patrick #38, Steven #84.
New Zealand · Boys44 shared years, 1954–1997
Patrick held the stronger position in 4 of those years, Steven in 40.
Highest recorded here: Patrick #45 in 1967, Steven #15 in 1967.
The order changed in 1994: Patrick moved ahead. In 1993 they stood at #53 and #51; by 1994 that had become #53 and #72.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Patrick #53, Steven #77.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Patrick held the stronger position in 29 of those years, Steven in 0.
Highest recorded here: Patrick #66 in 1996, Steven #73 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Patrick #120, Steven #800.
Northern Ireland · Boys24 shared years, 1997–2022
Patrick held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Steven in 0.
Highest recorded here: Patrick #18 in 2003, Steven #54 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Patrick #53, Steven #414.
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 | Patrick | Steven |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| 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. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Latin | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈpæt.ɹɪk/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Pádraig, Pádraic | 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 #25 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #829 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 82/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | high | medium |
What the data shows
- Patrick has a recorded origin (Latin); Steven does not have one recorded yet.
- Patrick and Steven both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Patrick; Steven doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Patrick a "high" Data Confidence level and Steven a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.
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 #83 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 2025.
New South Wales, Australia · 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