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 2024, Rhys was ranked #355 and Stephen #651 among boys in England and Wales.
Rhys and Stephen over time
Rhys and Stephen appear together in 5 published lists, across 121 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 Republic of Ireland · Boys for 36 years, from 1988 to 2025, ending at #179 and #232.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #54 and #60 in England and Wales · Boys, 6 places apart; by 2024 they were #355 and #651.
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 · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Rhys held the stronger position in 29 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, 2024: Rhys #355, Stephen #651.
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.
Side by side
| Field | Rhys | Stephen |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Behind 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. |
| Origin | Welsh, from Old Welsh Ris | Greek |
| Pronunciation | /riːs/ | /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, NZ | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #179 (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
- 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
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
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #25 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2008 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #179 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