How to say it
STE · ven
/ˈstiː.vən/
Masculine
Steven
Crown, garland
What it means
The common English spelling of Stephen, from the Greek Stephanos, 'crown' or 'garland.'
Steven is the phonetic spelling of Stephen, from the Greek Stephanos, 'crown.' St. Stephen was the first Christian martyr, which made the name a fixture across Europe for centuries. The v-spelling rose in the 20th century and gave the world Steven Spielberg, while the classic Steve remains the universal short. Stephen and Steven are the same name, just dressed differently.
Popularity over time
peaked at #10 in 1955, currently #271 in 2025.
Source: U.S. Social Security Administration, names given to at least 5 babies in a year, 1880–present. See where the names are moving
Heads-up notes
- Spelling
Steven and Stephen are the same name; Steven spells out the sound, Stephen keeps the Greek look.
- 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, stoned in the Book of Acts
- Steven Spielberg American filmmaker
Spelling variants
- Stephen
- Stefan
- Esteban
Names with the same feeling
See Steven from another angle
By style