Sebastian vs Stefan
Sebastian and Stefancompared 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.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2025, Sebastian was ranked #47 and Stefan #422 among boys in England and Wales.
Norway · Boys
In 2025, Sebastian was ranked #53 and Stefan #272 among boys in Norway.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Sebastian was ranked #116 and Stefan #535 among boys in Scotland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Sebastian was ranked #125 and Stefan #402 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2024, Sebastian was ranked #154 and Stefan #404 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Sebastian and Stefan over time
Sebastian and Stefan appear together in 4 published lists, across 145 years of shared records. Sebastian held the stronger position in more years in 4 of them, Stefan in 0.
The order between them changed and held in 3 of those lists — a change in that published list, never a claim that one name displaced the other.
Stefan reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Sebastian 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 2007, Sebastian moved ahead of Stefan in Northern Ireland · Boys — #265 and #218 the year before became #166 and #357.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Sebastian and Stefan changed places 7 times in Norway · Boys between 1968 and 2025, ending at #53 and #272.
- Mirrored each other
Over 36 shared years in Republic of Ireland · Boys, Sebastian rose about as far as Stefan fell — from #324 and #257 in 1979 to #125 and #402 in 2025.
- Longest-running competitions
Sebastian and Stefan were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #47 and #422.
List by list
Norway · Boys58 shared years, 1968–2025
Sebastian held the stronger position in 48 of those years, Stefan in 10.
Highest recorded here: Sebastian #6 in 2006, Stefan #98 in 1990.
The order changed in 1987: Sebastian moved ahead. In 1986 they stood at #110 and #108; by 1987 that had become #106 and #128.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Sebastian #53, Stefan #272.
Republic of Ireland · Boys36 shared years, 1979–2025
Sebastian held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Stefan in 12.
Highest recorded here: Sebastian #80 in 2017, Stefan #162 in 1991.
The order changed in 2004: Sebastian moved ahead. In 2003 they stood at #245 and #214; by 2004 that had become #263 and #283.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Sebastian #125, Stefan #402.
England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025
Sebastian held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Stefan in 0.
Highest recorded here: Sebastian #28 in 2018, Stefan #155 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Sebastian #47, Stefan #422.
Northern Ireland · Boys21 shared years, 1999–2024
Sebastian held the stronger position in 18 of those years, Stefan in 3.
Highest recorded here: Sebastian #102 in 2015, Stefan #168 in 1999.
The order changed in 2007: Sebastian moved ahead. In 2006 they stood at #265 and #218; by 2007 that had become #166 and #357.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Sebastian #154, Stefan #404.
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 | Sebastian | Stefan |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Traditionally interpreted as 'venerable' or 'revered' — from Latin Sebastianus, 'from Sebaste' (a city in Asia Minor), whose own name derives from a Greek word used to translate the Roman imperial title Augustus. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Latin, from Greek | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /səˈbæstʃən/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 3 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ |
| Most recent popularity observation | New South Wales, Australia · Boys #31 (2025) | Norway · Boys #272 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 65/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 70/100 | 88/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Sebastian has a recorded origin (Latin, from Greek); Stefan does not have one recorded yet.
- Sebastian has 3 syllables, compared with 2 for Stefan.
- A meaning is recorded for Sebastian; Stefan doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
How each name got here
Sebastian
Popularity journey
First recorded1968
First recorded at #415 among boys in Norway in 1968 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1968–2025
Highest recorded position: #6 among boys in Norway, in 2006 (recorded 1968–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #47 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys
Stefan
Popularity journey
First recorded1947
First recorded at #343 among boys in Norway in 1947 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Boys
Highest recorded1947–2025
Highest recorded position: #98 among boys in Norway, in 1990 (recorded 1947–2025).
Norway · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #422 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.
England and Wales · Boys