Namewise

Rhys vs Stephen

Rhys 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 1997, Rhys was ranked #69 and Stephen #100 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.

  • New Zealand · Boys

    In 1996, Rhys was ranked #94 and Stephen #87 among boys in New Zealand.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2025, Rhys was ranked #179 and Stephen #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

  • Scotland · Boys

    In 2024, Rhys was ranked #218 and Stephen #535 among boys in Scotland.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2024, Rhys was ranked #305 and Stephen #305 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2025, Rhys was ranked #389 and Stephen #716 among boys in England and Wales.

Rhys and Stephen over time

Rhys and Stephen appear together in 5 published lists, across 122 years of shared records. Stephen held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Rhys in 2.

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 5 of those lists, and Rhys in none. 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 1993, Rhys moved ahead of Stephen in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #57 and #55 the year before became #65 and #66.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 28 shared years in Northern Ireland · Boys, Rhys and Stephen averaged 45.2 places apart, ending at #305 and #305.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Rhys and Stephen were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #389 and #716.

  • Started together, ended far apart

    In 1996 they stood at #54 and #60 in England and Wales · Boys, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #389 and #716.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys36 shared years, 1988–2025

    Rhys held the stronger position in 17 of those years, Stephen in 19.

    Highest recorded here: Rhys #65 in 2010, Stephen #4 in 1988.

    The order changed in 2009: Rhys moved ahead. In 2008 they stood at #67 and #58; by 2009 that had become #74 and #77.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Rhys #179, Stephen #232.

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

    Rhys held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Stephen in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Rhys #49 in 2006, Stephen #60 in 1996.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Rhys #389, Stephen #716.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys28 shared years, 1997–2024

    Rhys held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Stephen in 9.

    Highest recorded here: Rhys #25 in 2008, Stephen #21 in 1998.

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

    Most recent shared year, 2024: Rhys #305, Stephen #305.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys14 shared years, 1984–1997

    Rhys held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Stephen in 9.

    Highest recorded here: Rhys #49 in 1991, Stephen #28 in 1984.

    The order changed in 1993: Rhys moved ahead. In 1992 they stood at #57 and #55; by 1993 that had become #65 and #66.

    Most recent shared year, 1997: Rhys #69, Stephen #100.

  • New Zealand · Boys14 shared years, 1975–1996

    Rhys held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Stephen in 14.

    Highest recorded here: Rhys #74 in 1992, Stephen #16 in 1977.

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

    Most recent shared year, 1996: Rhys #94, Stephen #87.

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 Rhys

Pairs where Rhys 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 — started together, ended far apart.

All 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.

England and Wales overview→

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 Rhys, Stephen
FieldRhysStephen
Record typeEditorially researched profileEditorially researched profile
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningBehind the Name hedges the meaning with 'probably' — possibly derived from a root meaning 'ardour' or 'enthusiasm'.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.
OriginWelsh, from Old Welsh RisGreek
Pronunciation/riːs//ˈstiː.vən/
Syllables12
Common variants / nicknamesNot yet recordedSteven, Stefan, Stephan
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Boys #179 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/10090/100
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)95/10082/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencemediumhigh

What the data shows

  • Rhys is recorded with a Welsh, from Old Welsh Ris origin, while Stephen is recorded with a Greek origin.
  • Rhys has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Stephen.
  • Rhys'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, NZ.
  • The available evidence gives Rhys 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

Rhys

Popularity journey

  1. First recorded1975

    First recorded at #85 among boys in New Zealand in 1975 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.

    New Zealand · Boys

  2. Highest recorded1997–2024

    Highest recorded position: #25 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2008 (recorded 1997–2024).

    Northern Ireland · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #389 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