How to say it
STE · phen
ˈstiː.vən
Masculine
Stephen
Crown, garland
What it means
From the Greek Stephanos, 'crown'; the classic ph-spelling of Steven.
Stephen comes from the Greek Stephanos, 'crown' or 'garland.' St. Stephen was the first Christian martyr, stoned in the Book of Acts, which made it a bedrock Christian name carried by kings of England and Hungary. The ph-spelling is the older, more formal one (the ph sounds like a v); Steven spells it out. Stephen Hawking and Stephen King are modern marks. Steve is the universal short.
How to spell Stephen
The standard spelling is Stephen. Common variants include Steven, Stefan, Esteban, but Stephen is the most widely used form.
Popularity over time
peaked at #19 in 1949, currently #383 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
- Spelling
Stephen keeps the Greek look (ph sounds like v); Steven spells the sound.
- Nickname
Steve is the everyday short.
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.
- St. Stephen the first Christian martyr, in the Book of Acts
- Stephen Hawking theoretical physicist and author of A Brief History of Time
Spelling variants
- Steven
- Stefan
- Esteban
Names with the same feeling
See Stephen from another angle
By meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Stephen mean?
- From the Greek Stephanos, 'crown'; the classic ph-spelling of Steven.
- What does Stephen mean in Greek?
- In Greek, Stephen means "Crown, garland." Stephen comes from the Greek Stephanos, 'crown' or 'garland.' St. Stephen was the first Christian martyr, stoned in the Book of Acts, which made it a bedrock Christian name carried by kings of England and Hungary. The ph-spelling is the older, more formal one (the ph sounds like a v); Steven spells it out. Stephen Hawking and Stephen King are modern marks. Steve is the universal short.
- How do you pronounce Stephen?
- Stephen is pronounced ˈstiː.vən. Say it as STE-phen, with the stress on the "ste" syllable.
- How do you spell Stephen?
- The standard spelling is Stephen. Common spelling variants include Steven, Stefan, Esteban.
- Is Stephen a boy or girl name?
- Stephen is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Stephen?
- Stephen ranked #383 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.