Namewise

Stephen vs Steven

Stephen 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 South Wales, Australia · Boys

    In 1997, Stephen was ranked #100 and Steven #73 among boys in New South Wales, Australia.

  • New Zealand · Boys

    In 1997, Stephen was ranked #95 and Steven #77 among boys in New Zealand.

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys

    In 2025, Stephen was ranked #232 and Steven #829 among boys in Republic of Ireland.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys

    In 2022, Stephen was ranked #285 and Steven #414 among boys in Northern Ireland.

  • Scotland · Boys

    In 2024, Stephen was ranked #535 and Steven #307 among boys in Scotland.

  • Norway · Boys

    In 2001, Stephen was ranked #522 and Steven #433 among boys in Norway.

  • England and Wales · Boys

    In 2025, Stephen was ranked #716 and Steven #976 among boys in England and Wales.

Stephen and Steven over time

Stephen and Steven appear together in 6 published lists, across 249 years of shared records. Stephen held the stronger position in more years in 5 of them, Steven in 1.

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.

Stephen reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 4 of those lists, and Steven 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 1974, Steven moved ahead of Stephen in New South Wales, Australia · Boys — #20 and #22 the year before became #23 and #20.

  • Repeatedly exchanged positions

    Stephen and Steven changed places 7 times in New Zealand · Boys between 1954 and 1997, ending at #95 and #77.

  • Closest over the longest run

    Across 46 shared years in New South Wales, Australia · Boys, Stephen and Steven averaged 10.3 places apart, ending at #100 and #73.

  • Longest-running competitions

    Stephen and Steven were both ranked in England and Wales · Boys for 30 years, from 1996 to 2025, ending at #716 and #976.

  • Peaked in the same years

    Both reached their highest recorded position in England and Wales · Boys within 2 years — Stephen #60 in 1996, Steven #73 in 1996.

List by list

  • Republic of Ireland · Boys61 shared years, 1964–2025

    Stephen held the stronger position in 61 of those years, Steven in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Stephen #4 in 1983, Steven #57 in 1990.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Stephen #232, Steven #829.

  • New South Wales, Australia · Boys46 shared years, 1952–1997

    Stephen held the stronger position in 22 of those years, Steven in 24.

    Highest recorded here: Stephen #3 in 1955, Steven #12 in 1961.

    The order changed in 1974: Steven moved ahead. In 1973 they stood at #20 and #22; by 1974 that had become #23 and #20.

    Most recent shared year, 1997: Stephen #100, Steven #73.

  • New Zealand · Boys44 shared years, 1954–1997

    Stephen held the stronger position in 26 of those years, Steven in 18.

    Highest recorded here: Stephen #5 in 1958, Steven #15 in 1967.

    The order changed in 1995: Steven moved ahead. In 1994 they stood at #69 and #72; by 1995 that had become #80 and #71.

    Most recent shared year, 1997: Stephen #95, Steven #77.

  • Norway · Boys44 shared years, 1946–2001

    Stephen held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Steven in 20.

    Highest recorded here: Stephen #232 in 1958, Steven #224 in 1983.

    The order changed in 2000: Steven moved ahead. In 1999 they stood at #544 and #545; by 2000 that had become #527 and #405.

    Most recent shared year, 2001: Stephen #522, Steven #433.

  • England and Wales · Boys30 shared years, 1996–2025

    Stephen held the stronger position in 30 of those years, Steven in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Stephen #60 in 1996, Steven #73 in 1996.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2025: Stephen #716, Steven #976.

  • Northern Ireland · Boys24 shared years, 1997–2022

    Stephen held the stronger position in 24 of those years, Steven in 0.

    Highest recorded here: Stephen #21 in 1998, Steven #54 in 1998.

    The order between them never changed and held in this list.

    Most recent shared year, 2022: Stephen #285, 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 Stephen

Pairs where Stephen shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other comparisons involving Steven

Pairs where Steven shares a published list with another name, each measured inside one registrar's own list.

Other pairs with the same kind of relationship

Pairs that qualify under the same rule as this one — closest over the longest run.

All closest over the longest run→

Other pairs from New South Wales, Australia lists

Pairs measured inside New South Wales, Australia's own published lists, where this pair's strongest relationship is also recorded. Positions in these lists are not comparable with another registrar's.

New South Wales, Australia overview→

Other pairs ranked together in the 1990s

Pairs both ranked in the same published list at some point between 1990 and 1999.

The 1990s across all registrars→

Side by side

Side-by-side comparison of Stephen, Steven
FieldStephenSteven
Record typeEditorially researched profileOfficial statistical record (evidence-only)
Gender usagemalemale
MeaningFrom 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.Not yet recorded
OriginGreekNot yet recorded
Pronunciation/ˈstiː.vən/
Syllables22
Common variants / nicknamesSteven, Stefan, StephanNot yet recorded
Recorded regional usageAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZAU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ
Most recent popularity observationRepublic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025)Republic of Ireland · Boys #829 (2025)
Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score)90/100Not yet recorded
Spelling simplicity (demonstration score)82/10088/100
International familiarity (demonstration score)100/100100/100
Data Confidencehighmedium

What the data shows

  • Stephen has a recorded origin (Greek); Steven does not have one recorded yet.
  • Stephen and Steven both have 2 syllables.
  • A meaning is recorded for Stephen; Steven doesn't have one written yet.
  • Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
  • The available evidence gives Stephen a "high" Data Confidence level and Steven a "medium" level — this reflects how complete and corroborated the underlying evidence is, not a judgement of either name.

How each name got here

Stephen

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1952–1997

    Highest recorded position: #3 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1955 (recorded 1952–1997).

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #716 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys

Steven

Popularity journey

  1. 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

  2. Highest recorded1952–2000

    Highest recorded position: #12 among boys in New South Wales, Australia, in 1961 (recorded 1952–2000).

    New South Wales, Australia · Boys

  3. Most recent2025

    Most recently recorded at #976 among boys in England and Wales, in 2025.

    England and Wales · Boys