Namewise

Philip vs Stephen

Philip 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 1988, Philip was ranked #98 and Stephen #39 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.

  • New Zealand · Boys

    In 1992, Philip was ranked #95 and Stephen #56 among boys in New Zealand.

  • Norway · Boys

    In 2001, Philip was ranked #86 and Stephen #522 among boys in Norway.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2025, Philip was ranked #309 and Stephen #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2022, Philip was ranked #311 and Stephen #285 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • Scotland · Boys

    In 2024, Philip was ranked #619 and Stephen #535 among boys in Scotland.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2025, Philip was ranked #549 and Stephen #716 among boys in England and Wales.

Philip and Stephen over time

Philip and Stephen appear together in 6 published lists, across 233 years of shared records. Stephen held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Philip in 1.

The order between them changed and held in 2 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 3 of those lists, Philip 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.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Philip and Stephen changed places 5 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2025, ending at #549 and #716.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 36 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Philip and Stephen averaged 41.5 places apart, ending at #98 and #39.

  • Mirrored each other

    Over 41 shared years in Norway · Boys, Philip rose about as far as Stephen fell — from #359 and #241 in 1949 to #86 and #522 in 2001.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Philip and Stephen were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #549 and #716.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Philip #103 in 1996, Stephen #60 in 1996.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys62 shared years, 1964–2025

    Philip held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Stephen in 61.

    Highest recorded here: Philip #30 in 1978, Stephen #4 in 1983.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Philip #309, Stephen #232.

  • Norway · Boys41 shared years, 1949–2001

    Philip held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Stephen in 17.

    Highest recorded here: Philip #86 in 2001, Stephen #232 in 1958.

    The order changed in 1980: Philip moved ahead. In 1979 they stood at #459 and #348; by 1980 that had become #290 and #393.

    Most recent shared year, 2001: Philip #86, Stephen #522.

  • New Zealand · Boys38 shared years, 1954–1992

    Philip held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Stephen in 38.

    Highest recorded here: Philip #20 in 1963, Stephen #5 in 1958.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 1992: Philip #95, Stephen #56.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys36 shared years, 1952–1988

    Philip held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Stephen in 36.

    Highest recorded here: Philip #29 in 1958, Stephen #3 in 1955.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 1988: Philip #98, Stephen #39.

  • England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Philip held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Stephen in 18.

    Highest recorded here: Philip #103 in 1996, Stephen #60 in 1996.

    The order changed in 2018: Philip moved ahead. In 2017 they stood at #414 and #409; by 2018 that had become #387 and #460.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Philip #549, Stephen #716.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys26 shared years, 1997–2022

    Philip held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Stephen in 26.

    Highest recorded here: Philip #51 in 1997, Stephen #21 in 1998.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2022: Philip #311, Stephen #285.

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 Philip

Pairs where Philip shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Stephen

Pairs where Stephen shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — moved together in several countries.

  • Christopher vs Paul

    Christopher and Paul both fell over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.

    Christopher · Paul · 80 shared years, 1946–2025 · Moved together in several countries

  • Oliver vs Leo

    Oliver and Leo both rose over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.

    Oliver · Leo · 63 shared years, 1959–2025 · Moved together in several countries

  • Oliver vs Luca

    Oliver and Luca both rose over the same years in 6 registrars — England and Wales · Boys; New South Wales, Australia · Boys; New Zealand · Boys; Northern Ireland · Boys; Norway · Boys; Republic of Ireland · Boys. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.

    Oliver · Luca · 43 shared years, 1973–2025 · Moved together in several countries

  • Amelia vs Sofia

    Amelia and Sofia both rose over the same years in 5 registrars — England and Wales · Girls; New South Wales, Australia · Girls; Northern Ireland · Girls; Norway · Girls; Republic of Ireland · Girls. Each list is measured against its own starting position; the positions are never combined.

    Amelia · Sofia · 36 shared years, 1972–2025 · Moved together in several countries

All moved together in several countries→

Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.

The 2020s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Philip, Stephen
FieldPhilipStephen
Record typeOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)Editorially researched profile
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningNot yet recordedFrom 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.
OriginNot yet recordedGreek
PronunciationNot yet recorded/ˈstiː.vən/
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedSteven, Stefan, Stephan
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationNorway · Boys #91 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)Not yet recorded90/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)88/10082/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediumhigh

What the data shows

  • Stephen has a recorded origin (Greek); Philip does not have one recorded yet.
  • Philip and Stephen both have 2 syllables.
  • A meaning is recorded for Stephen; Philip 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 Philip 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

Philip

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1948

    First recorded at #341 among boys in Norway in 1948 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    Norway · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1954–1992

    Highest recorded position: #20 among boys in New Zealand, in 1963 (recorded 1954–1992).

    New Zealand · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #549 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys

Stephen

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1952–1997

    Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1955 (recorded 1952–1997).

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #716 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys