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.
How to spell Steven
The standard spelling is Steven. Common variants include Stephen, Stefan, Esteban, but Steven is the most widely used form.
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, 1880–2025. Reviewed July 2026. 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 meaning
By style
Common questions
- What does the name Steven mean?
- The common English spelling of Stephen, from the Greek Stephanos, 'crown' or 'garland.'
- What does Steven mean in Greek?
- In Greek, Steven means "Crown, 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.
- How do you pronounce Steven?
- Steven is pronounced ˈstiː.vən. Say it as STE-ven, with the stress on the "ste" syllable.
- How do you spell Steven?
- The standard spelling is Steven. Common spelling variants include Stephen, Stefan, Esteban.
- Is Steven a boy or girl name?
- Steven is traditionally a masculine name.
- How popular is the name Steven?
- Steven ranked #271 in the U.S. in 2025, according to Social Security Administration data.