Stephen
Stephen: name meaning, origin and popularity
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈstiːvən/
Meaning and origin of Stephen
Root meaning: “to enlace”
- A male given name from Ancient Greek.
- A female given name.
Etymology
From Latin Stephanus, from Ancient Greek Στέφανος (Stéphanos), from στέφανος (stéphanos, “crown, wreath”), from στέφω (stéphō, “to put round, to surround”). From *stegʷʰ- (“to enlace”) + -νος (-nos, suffix forming an adjective or noun) from Proto-Indo-European *-nós (suffix forming a verbal adjective from a verb stem).
How popular is Stephen?
Since 1880, 2,930 girls and 864,739 boys in the U.S. have been named Stephen (0% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #1297 in 1967. Its highest rank for boys was #19 in 1949. In 2025 it ranked #383 for boys, with 829 babies given the name.
Names similar to Stephen
Names that start with the same letters, most popular first.
More Greek boy names
Sibling name ideas for Stephen
Sister and brother names that share Stephen's Greek roots and are still in the U.S. top 1,000.
Stephen FAQ
What does the name Stephen mean?
Stephen traces back to a root meaning "to enlace". A male given name from Ancient Greek. A female given name. From Latin Stephanus, from Ancient Greek Στέφανος (Stéphanos), from στέφανος (stéphanos, “crown, wreath”), from στέφω (stéphō, “to put round, to surround”). From *stegʷʰ- (“to enlace”) + -νος (-nos, suffix forming an adjective or noun) from Proto-Indo-European *-nós (suffix forming a verbal adjective from a verb stem).
What is the origin of the name Stephen?
Stephen is listed as a name of Greek origin.
How popular is the name Stephen?
Since 1880, 2,930 girls and 864,739 boys in the U.S. have been named Stephen (0% girls). Its highest rank for girls was #1297 in 1967. Its highest rank for boys was #19 in 1949. In 2025 it ranked #383 for boys, with 829 babies given the name.
Is Stephen a boy or girl name?
Stephen is mostly a boy name in the U.S.: 2,930 girls and 864,739 boys since 1880.
Popularity data: U.S. Social Security Administration baby name data, 1880–2025 (names given to 5+ babies per year). Origin and etymology text: Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.