Paul vs Stephen
Paul 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 Zealand · Boys
In 1996, Paul was ranked #79 and Stephen #87 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1997, Paul was ranked #86 and Stephen #100 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Norway · Boys
In 2001, Paul was ranked #216 and Stephen #522 among boys in Norway.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Paul was ranked #286 and Stephen #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Paul was ranked #278 and Stephen #305 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Paul was ranked #290 and Stephen #535 among boys in Scotland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Paul was ranked #586 and Stephen #651 among boys in England and Wales.
Paul and Stephen over time
Paul and Stephen appear together in 6 published lists, across 257 years of shared records. Paul 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.
Paul reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Stephen in 2. 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 1995, Paul moved ahead of Stephen in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #73 and #68 the year before became #72 and #76.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Paul and Stephen changed places 7 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #586 and #651.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 29 shared years in England and Wales · Boys, Paul and Stephen averaged 43.6 places apart, ending at #586 and #651.
- Longest-running competitions
Paul and Stephen were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 45 years, from 1952 to 1997, ending at #86 and #100.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Paul #72 in 1996, Stephen #60 in 1996.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025
Paul held the stronger position in 25 of those years, Stephen in 36.
Highest recorded here: Paul #3 in 1978, Stephen #4 in 1983.
The order changed in 2025: Stephen moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #222 and #240; by 2025 that had become #286 and #232.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Paul #286, Stephen #232.
Norway · Boys50 shared years, 1946–2001
Paul held the stronger position in 50 of those years, Stephen in 0.
Highest recorded here: Paul #67 in 1946, Stephen #210 in 1956.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2001: Paul #216, Stephen #522.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys45 shared years, 1952–1997
Paul held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Stephen in 15.
Highest recorded here: Paul #4 in 1966, Stephen #3 in 1955.
The order changed in 1995: Paul moved ahead. In 1994 they stood at #73 and #68; by 1995 that had become #72 and #76.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Paul #86, Stephen #100.
New Zealand · Boys43 shared years, 1954–1996
Paul held the stronger position in 34 of those years, Stephen in 9.
Highest recorded here: Paul #3 in 1965, Stephen #5 in 1958.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1996: Paul #79, Stephen #87.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Paul held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Stephen in 11.
Highest recorded here: Paul #72 in 1996, Stephen #60 in 1996.
The order changed in 2014: Paul moved ahead. In 2013 they stood at #285 and #280; by 2014 that had become #305 and #338.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Paul #586, Stephen #651.
Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024
Paul held the stronger position in 11 of those years, Stephen in 15.
Highest recorded here: Paul #27 in 1997, Stephen #21 in 1998.
The order changed in 2023: Paul moved ahead. In 2022 they stood at #352 and #285; by 2023 that had become #249 and #348.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Paul #278, 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 | Paul | Stephen |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | From the Roman name Paulus, meaning 'small' in Latin. Saint Paul, originally named Saul, converted to Christianity and became a key missionary figure, authoring several New Testament epistles. | 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 | /ˈpɔːl/ | /ˈstiː.vən/ |
| Syllables | 1 | 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 #286 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Paul is recorded with a Latin origin, while Stephen is recorded with a Greek origin.
- Paul has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Stephen.
- Paul'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 Paul 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
Paul
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #73 among boys in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1998
Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in New Zealand, in 1965 (recorded 1954–1998).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #286 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · 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