Ronan vs Steven
Ronan and Stevencompared 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.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2022, Ronan was ranked #23 and Steven #414 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Ronan was ranked #75 and Steven #307 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Ronan was ranked #86 and Steven #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Ronan was ranked #215 and Steven #976 among boys in England and Wales.
Ronan and Steven over time
Ronan and Steven appear together in 3 published lists, across 115 years of shared records. Ronan held the stronger position in more years in 2 of them, Steven in 1.
The order between them changed and held in one of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Steven reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 2 of those lists, Ronan in 1. 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.
- Longest-running competitions
Ronan and Steven were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #215 and #976.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1997 they stood at #50 and #59 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 9 places apart; by 2022 they were #23 and #414.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys61 shared years, 1964–2025
Ronan held the stronger position in 61 of those years, Steven in 0.
Highest recorded here: Ronan #31 in 1980, Steven #57 in 1990.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ronan #86, Steven #829.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Ronan held the stronger position in 12 of those years, Steven in 18.
Highest recorded here: Ronan #139 in 1999, Steven #73 in 1996.
The order changed in 2014: Ronan moved ahead. In 2013 they stood at #431 and #388; by 2014 that had become #393 and #438.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ronan #215, Steven #976.
Northern Ireland · Boys24 shared years, 1997–2022
Ronan held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Steven in 0.
Highest recorded here: Ronan #20 in 2021, Steven #54 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Ronan #23, Steven #414.
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 Ronan
Pairs where Ronan shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Darren vs Ronan
In 1997 they stood at #52 and #50 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 2 places apart; by 2024 they were #404 and #25.
Darren · Ronan · 24 shared years, 1997–2024 · Started together, ended far apart
- Gary vs Ronan
In 1997 they stood at #57 and #50 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 7 places apart; by 2022 they were #352 and #23.
Gary · Ronan · 20 shared years, 1997–2022 · Started together, ended far apart
- Dean vs Ronan
In 1997 they stood at #45 and #50 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 5 places apart; by 2023 they were #348 and #30.
Dean · Ronan · 24 shared years, 1997–2023 · Started together, ended far apart
- Barry vs Ronan
In 1964 they stood at #69 and #67 in Republic of Ireland · Boys, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #402 and #86.
Barry · Ronan · 62 shared years, 1964–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other comparisons involving Steven
Pairs where Steven shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Steven vs Ross
In 1996 they stood at #73 and #68 in England and Wales · Boys, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #976 and #2014.
Steven · Ross · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Patrick vs Steven
In 1996 they stood at #66 and #73 in England and Wales · Boys, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #134 and #976.
Patrick · Steven · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anthony vs Steven
In 1996 they stood at #65 and #73 in England and Wales · Boys, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #239 and #976.
Anthony · Steven · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Craig vs Steven
In 1996 they stood at #81 and #73 in England and Wales · Boys, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #1705 and #976.
Craig · Steven · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs with the same kind of relationship
Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — started together, ended far apart.
- Grace vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #41 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2025 they were #27 and #4867.
Grace · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Ella vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #56 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #46 and #4867.
Ella · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jasmine vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #55 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #102 and #4867.
Jasmine · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anna vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #47 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #142 and #4867.
Anna · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs from Northern Ireland lists
Pairs measured inside Northern Ireland's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.
- Charlotte vs Jodie
In 1997 they stood at #72 and #77 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2021 they were #13 and #446.
Charlotte · Jodie · 23 shared years, 1997–2021 · Started together, ended far apart
- Emily vs Rachael
In 1997 they stood at #32 and #25 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2017 they were #1 and #432.
Emily · Rachael · 19 shared years, 1997–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
- Grace vs Fiona
In 1997 they stood at #57 and #66 in Northern Ireland · Girls, 9 places apart; by 2017 they were #2 and #432.
Grace · Fiona · 18 shared years, 1997–2017 · Started together, ended far apart
- Oliver vs Colin
In 1997 they stood at #100 and #96 in Northern Ireland · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2021 they were #5 and #433.
Oliver · Colin · 21 shared years, 1997–2021 · Started together, ended far apart
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Hayley vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #57 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 7 places apart; by 2025 they were #478 and #4867.
Hayley · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Natalie vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #42 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #634 and #4867.
Natalie · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jennifer vs Gemma
In 1996 they stood at #54 and #50 in England and Wales · Girls, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #650 and #4867.
Jennifer · Gemma · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Lily vs Nicola
In 1996 they stood at #85 and #87 in England and Wales · Girls, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #2 and #4201.
Lily · Nicola · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Ronan | Steven |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Traditionally interpreted as 'little seal'. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Irish | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɹoʊnən/ | |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #86 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #829 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 94/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Ronan has a recorded origin (Irish); Steven does not have one recorded yet.
- Ronan and Steven both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Ronan; Steven doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE.
How each name got here
Ronan
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #67 among boys in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
Highest recorded1997–2024
Highest recorded position: #20 among boys in Northern Ireland, in 2019 (recorded 1997–2024).
Northern Ireland · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #215 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Steven
Popularity journey
First recorded1946
First recorded at #363 among boys in Norway in 1946 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1952–2000
Highest recorded position: #12 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1961 (recorded 1952–2000).
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #976 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys