How to say it
suh · BAS · chun
sɪˈbæs.tʃən
Masculine
Sebastian
From Sebaste, or 'venerable'
What it means
From the Latin Sebastianus, 'from Sebaste,' a city in Asia Minor named for the Greek sebastos (venerable, august), itself the Greek translation of the Roman title Augustus.
Saint Sebastian (3rd century Roman martyr, executed by arrows, then revived, then clubbed to death) became one of the most-depicted figures in Christian art. The Spanish Sebastián is heavily used in Latin America and is often the form behind an English-speaking Sebastian in US Latino communities. The Little Mermaid's Caribbean-accented crab Sebastian (1989) gave the name a generation of Disney exposure. Currently US top fifteen for boys and climbing. Common short forms: Seb, Bash, Bastian.
How to spell Sebastian
The standard spelling is Sebastian. Common variants include Sebastián, Sébastien, Sebastiano, but Sebastian is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #13 in 2022, currently #16 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Pronunciation
Two accepted forms: sih-BAS-chun (more American) and sih-BAS-tee-un (closer to the Latin). Both are standard.
- Nickname
Bash and Sebby both circulate. Some families never shorten.
Who's worn it
Historical figures, characters, and public faces who share the name. The cultural surface, for whatever weight you want to give it.
- Saint Sebastian 3rd-century martyr, frequently painted full of arrows
- Sebastian (Little Mermaid) The crab major-domo, 1989 Disney film
- Sebastian Stan Actor, Bucky Barnes in Marvel and A Different Man
Spelling variants
- Sebastián
- Sébastien
- Sebastiano
Names with the same feeling
See Sebastian from another angle
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Sebastian mean?
- From the Latin Sebastianus, 'from Sebaste,' a city in Asia Minor named for the Greek sebastos (venerable, august), itself the Greek translation of the Roman title Augustus.
- What does Sebastian mean in Latin?
- In Latin, Sebastian means "From Sebaste, or 'venerable'." Saint Sebastian (3rd century Roman martyr, executed by arrows, then revived, then clubbed to death) became one of the most-depicted figures in Christian art. The Spanish Sebastián is heavily used in Latin America and is often the form behind an English-speaking Sebastian in US Latino communities. The Little Mermaid's Caribbean-accented crab Sebastian (1989) gave the name a generation of Disney exposure. Currently US top fifteen for boys and climbing. Common short forms: Seb, Bash, Bastian.
- How do you pronounce Sebastian?
- Sebastian is pronounced sɪˈbæs.tʃən. Say it as suh-BAS-chun, with the stress on the "bas" syllable.
- How do you spell Sebastian?
- The standard spelling is Sebastian. Common spelling variants include Sebastián, Sébastien, Sebastiano.
- Is Sebastian a boy or girl name?
- Sebastian is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Sebastian?
- Sebastian ranked #16 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.