Stephen
Stephen was the 383rd most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 829 babies. Its best year was 1949, when it ranked 19th; the most babies were born in 1952 (23,055). Over the last ten years it has moved down 137 places. More babies were named Stephen in the 1950s than in any other decade.
Meaning (as Steven) crown, wreath (form of Stephen) · Greek
- Rank in 2025
- #383 boys, down 61 places since 2020
- Babies in 2025
- 829boys
- Girls and boys
- Almost always a boy’s name2021–2025
- Peak year
- 195223,055 babies
- Total since 1880
- 867,669babies recorded
What does the name Stephen mean?
Stephen is a spelling of Steven, pronounced the same way, so it shares Steven's meaning and origin.
Steven is a spelling of Stephen, from the Greek Stephanos, 'crown, wreath', a word also used for the victor's wreath and for honor; DMNES gives 'crown, wreath; reward, honor'. Saint Stephen, whose stoning in the Book of Acts made him the first Christian martyr, spread the name widely, and DMNES lists nine popes and kings of Croatia and Hungary. Wiktionary traces the Steven spelling to Middle English Stevene. Steve and Stevie are its short forms.
στέφανος (Ancient Greek, “crown, wreath”)
How sure is this? Well established.
Related names: Stephen, Steve, Stevie, Esteban, Stefan, Stephanie.
See also: Greek names.
Sources for this meaning
- Wiktionary, entry 'Steven', Wiktionary (Wikimedia Foundation); facts restated, no text reused
- Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, ed. S. L. Uckelman, Edition 2023 no. 1, s.v. 'Stephen', Durham University / The DMNES Editors
- New Testament, Acts 6:5 (Greek text and translations via Bible Gateway), Bible Gateway
Stephen popularity since 1880
A few girls are given the name too: 2,930 since 1912.
| Year | Rank (boys) | Babies (boys) |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #383 | 829 |
| 2020 | #322 | 1,024 |
| 2010 | #201 | 1,820 |
| 2000 | #95 | 4,137 |
| 1990 | #39 | 11,943 |
| 1980 | #40 | 10,062 |
| 1970 | #27 | 14,758 |
| 1960 | #27 | 16,267 |
| 1950 | #19 | 20,511 |
| 1940 | #49 | 4,423 |
| 1930 | #138 | 1,257 |
| 1920 | #96 | 1,771 |
| 1910 | #96 | 350 |
| 1900 | #127 | 181 |
| 1890 | #109 | 156 |
| 1880 | #84 | 176 |
How popular is Stephen, counting every spelling?
Stephen is a spelling of Steven, a name family that ranked #185 for boys in 2025 once every spelling is counted together, compared with #383 for Stephen on its own. Together these spellings went to 2,110 boys in 2025.
| Spelling | Babies 2025 | Official rank | Babies 2021–2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steven | 1,261 | #271 | 6,813 |
| Stephen | 829 | #383 | 4,474 |
| Stevan | 12 | #7,132 | 51 |
Spellings count together when they sound the same in American English and are used for the same sex; nicknames and forms that sound different (such as Theo and Theodore) are kept apart. How we group spellings.
How many kids will share the name Stephen?
829 of the 3,606,400 babies born in the US in 2025 were named Stephen (0.23 per 1,000 births). For a boy named Stephen born in 2025, the chance that another child with the same name is in a class of 20 children the same age is under 1 in 50. If every grade liked the name as much as the 2025 babies do, only about one elementary school in 10 (of 430 pupils) would have a child named Stephen.
Shares of all registered births (NCHS); classes assumed to be children born the same year. How we estimate this.
How old are people named Stephen?
About 635,000 people born in the US named Stephen are alive today, with a median age of 56; half are between 40 and 69. That makes Stephen a name most people associate with older generations.
Babies given the name each year (SSA) times the share of that birth year still alive (SSA life tables). Counts people born in the US only. Method.
Stephen by state
How common Stephen was among boys born in each state in 2021–2025. It is notably more common than nationally in Massachusetts (2.2×), Connecticut (2.0×), South Carolina (1.9×), Pennsylvania (1.9×), West Virginia (1.8×). It is least common, relative to the national rate, in New Mexico, Nebraska, North Dakota.
Names with a similar history
These names rose and fell in step with Stephen: their share of US boys followed the most similar curve since 1880. If you like Stephen, they share its era and feel.
Questions about the name Stephen
What does Stephen mean?
Stephen is a spelling of Steven, which means “crown, wreath (form of Stephen)” (Greek origin). Certainty: well established.
How popular is the name Stephen?
Stephen was the 383rd most popular name for boys in 2025, given to 829 babies. Its best year was 1949, when it ranked 19th; the most babies were born in 1952 (23,055). Over the last ten years it has moved down 137 places. More babies were named Stephen in the 1950s than in any other decade.
Is Stephen a boy or girl name?
In 2021–2025, almost always a boy’s name given the name Stephen in the US.
Where is Stephen most popular?
In 2021–2025, Stephen was most common in Massachusetts (1.13 per 1,000 boys), followed by Connecticut and South Carolina.