Ross vs Stephen
Ross and Stephen compared 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 1983, Ross was ranked #86 and Stephen #27 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1985, Ross was ranked #96 and Stephen #39 among boys in New Zealand.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Ross was ranked #329 and Stephen #232 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Ross was ranked #307 and Stephen #535 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2023, Ross was ranked #395 and Stephen #348 among boys in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Ross was ranked #2014 and Stephen #716 among boys in England and Wales.
Ross and Stephen over time
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Higher on the chart is a stronger position. The scale is logarithmic, so the gap from #1 to #10 is drawn as large as the gap from #100 to #1,000.
Ross and Stephen over time
Ross and Stephen appear together in 5 published lists, across 176 years of shared records. Stephen held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Ross in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Stephen reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Ross 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
Ross and Stephen changed places 4 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2025, ending at #2014 and #716.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 28 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Ross and Stephen averaged 50.7 places apart, ending at #86 and #27.
- Longest-running competitions
Ross and Stephen were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #2014 and #716.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Ross #60 in 1997, Stephen #60 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #68 and #60 in England and Wales · Boys, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #2014 and #716.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys61 shared years, 1964–2025
Ross held the stronger position in 1 of those years, Stephen in 59.
Highest recorded here: Ross #39 in 1998, Stephen #4 in 1983.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ross #329, Stephen #232.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Ross held the stronger position in 6 of those years, Stephen in 24.
Highest recorded here: Ross #60 in 1997, Stephen #60 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Ross #2014, Stephen #716.
New Zealand · Boys30 shared years, 1954–1985
Ross held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Stephen in 30.
Highest recorded here: Ross #25 in 1957, Stephen #5 in 1958.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1985: Ross #96, Stephen #39.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys28 shared years, 1952–1983
Ross held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Stephen in 28.
Highest recorded here: Ross #34 in 1958, Stephen #3 in 1955.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1983: Ross #86, Stephen #27.
Northern Ireland · Boys27 shared years, 1997–2023
Ross held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Stephen in 21.
Highest recorded here: Ross #30 in 1997, Stephen #21 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2023: Ross #395, Stephen #348.
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 Ross
Pairs where Ross shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Henry vs Ross
In 1996 they stood at #58 and #68 in England and Wales · Boys, 10 places apart; by 2025 they were #13 and #2014.
Henry · Ross · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Patrick vs Ross
In 1996 they stood at #66 and #68 in England and Wales · Boys, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #134 and #2014.
Patrick · Ross · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Jason vs Ross
In 1996 they stood at #69 and #68 in England and Wales · Boys, 1 places apart; by 2025 they were #187 and #2014.
Jason · Ross · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Anthony vs Ross
In 1996 they stood at #65 and #68 in England and Wales · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #239 and #2014.
Anthony · Ross · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Other comparisons involving Stephen
Pairs where Stephen shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.
- Stephen vs Henry
In 1996 they stood at #60 and #58 in England and Wales · Boys, 2 places apart; by 2025 they were #716 and #13.
Stephen · Henry · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Stephen vs Max
In 1996 they stood at #60 and #56 in England and Wales · Boys, 4 places apart; by 2025 they were #716 and #48.
Stephen · Max · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Stephen vs Dylan
In 1996 they stood at #60 and #57 in England and Wales · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2025 they were #716 and #72.
Stephen · Dylan · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Patrick vs Stephen
In 1996 they stood at #66 and #60 in England and Wales · Boys, 6 places apart; by 2025 they were #134 and #716.
Patrick · Stephen · 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 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.
- 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
Other pairs ranked together in the 2020s
Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 2020 and 2029.
- Freya vs Jordan
In 1996 they stood at #118 and #126 in England and Wales · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #6 and #4201.
Freya · Jordan · 29 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Nicola vs Poppy
In 1996 they stood at #87 and #92 in England and Wales · Girls, 5 places apart; by 2025 they were #4201 and #7.
Nicola · Poppy · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Nicola vs Sophia
In 1996 they stood at #87 and #95 in England and Wales · Girls, 8 places apart; by 2025 they were #4201 and #13.
Nicola · Sophia · 30 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
- Mia vs Jordan
In 1996 they stood at #116 and #126 in England and Wales · Girls, 10 places apart; by 2025 they were #21 and #4201.
Mia · Jordan · 29 shared years, 1996–2025 · Started together, ended far apart
Side by side
| Field | Ross | 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 | 1 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Steven, Stefan, Stephan |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, New Zealand | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, New Zealand |
| Most recent popularity observation | Republic of Ireland · Boys #329 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | medium | high |
What the data shows
- Stephen has a recorded origin (Greek); Ross does not have one recorded yet.
- Ross has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Stephen.
- A meaning is recorded for Stephen; Ross doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
- The available evidence gives Ross 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
Ross
Popularity journey
First recorded1952
First recorded at #36 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1952 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1954–1985
Highest recorded position: #25 among boys in New Zealand, in 1957 (recorded 1954–1985).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #2014 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · 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 #716 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys