Stephen is a distinctive choice, ranked #651 in 2024. Your child is likely to be the only Stephen in their class.
💎
UK Rank 2024
#651
US Rank #377
About the Name Stephen
Stephen has seen a notable decline in recent years, dropping 87 places in five years. It was most popular in 1996 at #60 — parents choosing it today are making a deliberately counter-trend decision. The name has been a consistent presence in UK records since 1996. It has broken into the UK top 100 on 6 occasions, signalling genuine mainstream interest.
Stephen is distinctive enough that your child will likely be the only one in both their class and their school — standing out on every register.
In the US it ranks even higher at #377, where it enjoys a particularly strong following.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the name Stephen
Unlikely. With around 57 UK babies named Stephen per year, your child will almost certainly be the only Stephen in his class, and possibly the only one in the whole school.
Stephen has been declining in UK popularity, dropping 87 places in the last five years. Its peak was #60 in 1996. Choosing it now means he is likely to be among the last of his generation with this name.
Stephen is more popular in the US (#377) than in the UK (#651). Names with strong rankings in both countries tend to have broad cross-cultural appeal, working well for international families or those with ties to both nations.
Notable people named Stephen include: Stephen Miller — Stephen N.; Stephen Curry — Wardell Stephen Curry II, also known as Steph Curry ( STEF), is an American professional basketball player for the Golden State Warriors of the National....
Stephen appears in the US top 500 at #377 in 2024 — moderately popular in America, though less so than in the UK.
57
UK babies named Stephen (2024)
< 1
Expected classmates with this name (class of 28)
~0.0
In a school of 600
↓ 87 places
Rank change (last 5 years)
🏫 Who else is in the room?
In a typical UK class of 28, highlighted children share the name Stephen
Likely around 1 other Stephen in the class
UK Popularity (1996–2024)
Rank and birth count · ONS official data
US Popularity (2020–2024)
Rank · SSA official data
✨ Similar names to Stephen
Names with a similar style — each with their own classroom story
Stephen Henry Lewis was a Canadian politician, public speaker, broadcaster and diplomat who served as leader of the Ontario New Democratic Party (ONDP) from 1970 to 1978. Elected to the Legislative Assembly of Ontario in 1963 at the age of 26, he became the province's leader of the Official Opposition in 1975.
Stephen William Hawking was an English theoretical astrophysicist, cosmologist, and author who was director of research at the Centre for Theoretical Cosmology at the University of Cambridge. Between 1979 and 2009, he was the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge, widely viewed as one of the most prestigious academic posts in the world.
Wardell Stephen Curry II, also known as Steph Curry ( STEF), is an American professional basketball player for the Golden State Warriors of the National Basketball Association (NBA), where he plays as a point guard. Nicknamed "Chef Curry", he is widely regarded as the greatest shooter in basketball history and is credited with revolutionizing the game by popularizing the three-point shot across all levels of basketball.