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.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Philip was ranked #461 and Stephen #651 among boys in England and Wales.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Philip was ranked #619 and Stephen #535 among boys in Scotland.
Philip and Stephen over time
Philip and Stephen appear together in 6 published lists, across 232 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 2024, ending at #461 and #651.
- 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 New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 36 years, from 1952 to 1988, ending at #98 and #39.
- 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 · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Philip held the stronger position in 11 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, 2024: Philip #461, Stephen #651.
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.
Side by side
| Field | Philip | Stephen |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | 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 | Not yet recorded | Greek |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | /ˈstiː.vən/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 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 | Norway · Boys #91 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 90/100 |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 88/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
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
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
Highest recorded1954–1992
Highest recorded position: #20 among boys in New Zealand, in 1963 (recorded 1954–1992).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #91 among boys in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · 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