Shaun vs Steven
Shaun 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.
New Zealand · Boys
In 1997, Shaun was ranked #64 and Steven #77 among boys in New Zealand.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
In 1997, Shaun was ranked #96 and Steven #73 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.
Scotland · Boys
In 2024, Shaun was ranked #727 and Steven #307 among boys in Scotland.
Northern Ireland · Boys
In 2017, Shaun was ranked #318 and Steven #363 among boys in Northern Ireland.
Republic of Ireland · Boys
In 2025, Shaun was ranked #577 and Steven #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland.
England and Wales · Boys
In 2024, Shaun was ranked #1162 and Steven #800 among boys in England and Wales.
Shaun and Steven over time
Shaun and Steven appear together in 5 published lists, across 171 years of shared records. Steven held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Shaun 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.
Steven reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, Shaun 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.
- One took the other's place near the top
In New Zealand · Boys, Shaun moved into the top 50 at #46 in 1993 as Steven fell out of it to #51, having been #44 the year before.
- One moved ahead of the other
In 1993, Shaun moved ahead of Steven in New Zealand · Boys — #48 and #44 the year before became #46 and #51.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Shaun and Steven changed places 6 times in England and Wales · Boys between 1996 and 2024, ending at #1162 and #800.
- Closest over the longest run
Across 33 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Shaun and Steven averaged 38.7 places apart, ending at #96 and #73.
- Longest-running competitions
Shaun and Steven were both ranked in New South Wales, Australia · Boys for 33 years, from 1965 to 1997, ending at #96 and #73.
- Peaked in the same years
Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Shaun #76 in 1996, Steven #73 in 1996.
- Started together, ended far apart
In 1996 they stood at #76 and #73 in England and Wales · Boys, 3 places apart; by 2024 they were #1162 and #800.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Boys58 shared years, 1966–2025
Shaun held the stronger position in 8 of those years, Steven in 47.
Highest recorded here: Shaun #81 in 1993, Steven #57 in 1990.
The order changed in 2025: Shaun moved ahead. In 2024 they stood at #785 and #302; by 2025 that had become #577 and #829.
Most recent shared year, 2025: Shaun #577, Steven #829.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys33 shared years, 1965–1997
Shaun held the stronger position in 0 of those years, Steven in 33.
Highest recorded here: Shaun #38 in 1981, Steven #14 in 1965.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Shaun #96, Steven #73.
New Zealand · Boys31 shared years, 1967–1997
Shaun held the stronger position in 7 of those years, Steven in 24.
Highest recorded here: Shaun #34 in 1988, Steven #15 in 1967.
The order changed in 1993: Shaun moved ahead. In 1992 they stood at #48 and #44; by 1993 that had become #46 and #51.
Most recent shared year, 1997: Shaun #64, Steven #77.
England and Wales · Boys29 shared years, 1996–2024
Shaun held the stronger position in 5 of those years, Steven in 24.
Highest recorded here: Shaun #76 in 1996, Steven #73 in 1996.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Shaun #1162, Steven #800.
Northern Ireland · Boys20 shared years, 1997–2017
Shaun held the stronger position in 3 of those years, Steven in 17.
Highest recorded here: Shaun #121 in 1997, Steven #54 in 1998.
The order changed in 2017: Shaun moved ahead. In 2016 they stood at #415 and #259; by 2017 that had become #318 and #363.
Most recent shared year, 2017: Shaun #318, Steven #363.
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 | Shaun | Steven |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Official statistical record (evidence-only) | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | Not yet recorded | |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| 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 #577 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #829 (2025) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | Not yet recorded | 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
- Shaun has 1 syllable, compared with 2 for Steven.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NZ.
How each name got here
Shaun
Popularity journey
First recorded1965
First recorded at #84 among boys in New South Wales, Australia in 1965 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
New South Wales, Australia · Boys
Highest recorded1967–1999
Highest recorded position: #34 among boys in New Zealand, in 1988 (recorded 1967–1999).
New Zealand · Boys
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #577 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · 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 #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland, in 2025.
Republic of Ireland · Boys