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Stephen

♂ Boy

Pronounced STEE-ven /ˈstiː.vən/High

Meaning: From Greek Stephanos meaning crown or garland, the symbol of victory and honor in classical antiquityHigh

In 30 seconds: Stephen is a distinguished Greek name meaning 'crown,' borne by the first Christian martyr and carried through centuries of popes, kings, and scientists with enduring dignity.
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Origin HighGreek, Latin
MeaningFrom Greek Stephanos meaning crown or garland, the symbol of victory and honor in classical antiquity
U.S. rank (2025)#383 ↘ Falling
2025 U.S. births829 boys (0.05% of U.S. boys)
Peak year1952
Total births (all-time)≈ 864,733

Popularity in the U.S. · SSA data

peak 195218802025

U.S. births per year (Social Security Administration, 1880–present). Pink marker = peak year.

History & Origin

Stephen comes from the Greek Stephanos, meaning crown or wreath. Saint Stephen, stoned to death around 34 CE, became the first Christian martyr, and his feast day on December 26 helped spread the name throughout Christendom.

The name was carried by numerous medieval kings including Stephen of England. In the 20th century it was consistently popular in the United States, peaking in the 1950s–60s.

Did you know? The alternate spelling Steven came to be used frequently in the 20th century, but the traditional Stephen spelling preserves the original Greek and Latin ecclesiastical orthography.
Overall data confidence 97%
Behind the Name — Stephen — etymology and religious historyU.S. Social Security Administration — popularity data

Variations

StevenStefanStefanoEsteban

Nicknames

SteveStevie

Famous Bearers

  • ★Stephen Hawking (1942–2018)
    British theoretical physicist and cosmologist, author of A Brief History of Time.
  • ★Stephen King (1947–present)
    American author known as the King of Horror, with over 350 million books sold.

If you like Stephen…

Daniel— shares the biblical heritage and mid-century classic American popularity
Michael— fellow top-ranked classic with deep religious roots
Thomas— biblical Apostle name with the same evergreen traditional weight
Peter— Greek-origin Apostle name with similar ecclesiastical and royal history

Frequently Asked

What does the name Stephen mean?

Stephen comes from Greek Stephanos meaning crown or garland, a symbol of victory and honor.

How do you pronounce Stephen?

It is said STEE-ven /ˈstiː.vən/ — two syllables, stress on the first; the ph is pronounced like v.

What is the difference between Stephen and Steven?

Both are the same name; Stephen preserves the original Greek spelling while Steven is a modern phonetic variant.

Is Stephen still popular?

Stephen remains a recognized classic; it was most popular in the 1950s and 1960s in the U.S.