Let us consult the Greek, both the Textus Receptus and Westcott-Hort editions.
person | Textus Receptus | Westcott-Hort |
Jesus | pleres charitos | pleres charitos |
Stephen | pleres pistos | pleres charitos |
Mary | kecharitomene | kecharitomene |
We see that in the Textus Receptus, which is the Greek the KJV translators used, Stephen is not called pleris chatitos like Jesus, but rather pleris pistos, which the KJV renders "full of faith". Regardless, the Greek is not the same as regards to Jesus/Stephen vs. Mary. Therein lies the difference.
The translation of kecharitomene into "Highly favored one" does not even begin to do the Greek justice, IMO. Even Jerome's translation, "full of grace", while superior to "Highly favored one", doesn't convey the full force of kecharitomene.
Also, no one ever used pleris charitos as a proper name for either Jesus or Stephen. On the other hand, the Angel used kecharitomene as if that was Mary's name. In other words, the Angel didn't say, "Hail Mary..." but rather, "Hail Kecharitomene. It's almost as if that is who and what Mary intrinsically was. Think about it.
Pray for John Paul II