Stephen
Stephen is a boy's name of Greek origin.
Meaning
Crown, garland, or honor.
Origin and history
Stephen is derived from the Greek name Stephanos, meaning crown or wreath. Historically prominent as the name of the first Christian martyr, it became a classic choice throughout the English-speaking world. In the United States, Stephen has been a staple masculine name, consistently ranking among the top historic names.
Popularity in the United States
864,739 babies in the United States have been named Stephen since 1880. It ranks #37 all-time. Among babies born since 2020 it ranks #354.
States where it is most popular
- NY (10.4 %)
- CA (8.1 %)
- PA (7.8 %)
- MA (5.6 %)
- TX (5.5 %)
Trends by decade
| Decade | Births |
|---|---|
| 1880-1890 | 1,684 |
| 1890-1900 | 1,733 |
| 1900-1910 | 2,247 |
| 1910-1920 | 13,502 |
| 1920-1930 | 15,556 |
| 1930-1940 | 18,272 |
| 1940-1950 | 106,812 |
| 1950-1960 | 207,276 |
| 1960-1970 | 152,240 |
| 1970-1980 | 107,804 |
| 1980-1990 | 113,631 |
| 1990-2000 | 75,160 |
| 2000-2010 | 28,902 |
| 2010-2019 | 14,422 |
| 2020-2029 | 5,498 |
Famous people named Stephen
- Stephen King: Author, Novelist
- Stephen Hawking: Physicist, Cosmologist
- Stephen Curry: Basketball Player, Athlete
Nicknames
Steve, Stevie
Fun facts
- The name originates from the ancient Greek word 'stephanos', which referred to the crown or wreath given to victors in athletic contests.
- While pronounced identically to Steven in most English dialectal contexts, Stephen retains the classic 'ph' spelling derived from Greek.