Compare Names
Search for up to 4 names to compare side by side, or browse a curated comparison below.
- Patrick
- Stephen
| Field | Patrick | Stephen |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Editorially researched profile |
| Gender usage | male | male |
| Meaning | From Latin Patricius, meaning 'nobleman, patrician'. Adopted by Saint Patrick (originally named Sucat), a Romanized Briton who Christianized Ireland and became its patron saint. | 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 | Latin | Greek |
| Pronunciation | /ˈpæt.ɹɪk/ | /ˈstiː.vən/ |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Pádraig, Pádraic | Steven, Stefan, Stephan |
| Recorded regional usage | New South Wales, Australia, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Republic of Ireland, Norway, 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 #25 (2025) | Republic of Ireland · Boys #232 (2025) |
| Data Confidence | high | high |
What the data shows
- Patrick is recorded with a Latin origin, while Stephen is recorded with a Greek origin.
- Patrick and Stephen both have 2 syllables.
- Patrick's recorded meaning differs from Stephen's — see the table above for each.
- Both names have recorded usage in AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ.
Name rivalries — pairs whose positions genuinely passed each other →
Curated comparisons
Two of the UK's most enduringly popular girls' names, both with a soft, flowing sound and a similar era of peak popularity — the choice usually comes down to origin story and nickname preference.
Both are currently the most-used boys' names in several English-speaking countries. Oliver leans slightly more classic/literary; Noah is shorter and more globally portable.
Both short, currently-fashionable UK names — Freya carries Norse mythological weight, while Isla is a Scottish place name that reads as slightly softer and more understated.
Both carry regal, 'strength'-adjacent meanings and centuries of royal usage — Alexander is the more internationally familiar choice, Magnus the more distinctive.