Fun Facts About the Name Stephen
- An all-time favorite: U.S. records show 864,733 boys named Stephen from 1880 through 2025.
- A favorite of earlier generations: Stephen appeared in the U.S. top 100 in 6 separate runs, totaling 95 years. Its last run lasted 65 consecutive years, from 1936 through 2000.
- More than 867 thousand babies named Stephen: U.S. records list 867,663 babies given the name Stephen from 1880 through 2025. Even 2,930 girls received the name Stephen - about 1 girl for every 295 boys.
What Does the Name Stephen Mean?
Stephen is an English form of the Greek name Stephanos (Στέφανος), which means "crown," "wreath," or "garland." The Greek noun stephanos referred to a wreath worn as a mark of honor, especially a victor's crown, and it is related to the verb stephō (στέφω), "to encircle" or "to crown." The name came into Latin as Stephanus; the ph in the English spelling reflects the Greek letter phi (φ). In Christian usage, the literal image of a crown or wreath was often given a symbolic meaning, especially the crown of martyrdom or the crown of life, but the name's basic etymology is the Greek word for a wreath or crown.
Stephen Name History & Origins
The name is Greek in origin, not Hebrew, though it appears in the Greek New Testament. In the Acts of the Apostles, Stephen (Στέφανος) is one of the seven men chosen to serve the early Christian community in Jerusalem; he is remembered as the first Christian martyr after his stoning, and his feast is observed on December 26 in Western Christianity and December 27 in many Eastern churches. From the Greek Stephanos and its Latin form Stephanus, the name spread through Christian Europe. Different languages developed their own forms, including French Étienne (older Estienne), Spanish Esteban, Italian Stefano, German Stefan, and Hungarian István.
In England, the Latin saint's name Stephanus appears in religious writing, and the vernacular form Stephen is recorded in the Middle Ages. The name was borne by King Stephen of England (reigned 1135 - 1154), a grandson of William the Conqueror. It was also the baptismal name of Saint Stephen of Hungary (c. 975 - 1038), who had been born Vajk. The spelling Steven is a common English variant, and in American English it is normally pronounced the same as Stephen.
How Popular is the Name Stephen?
Stephen has a rich multi-era history in the U.S. top 100, spanning 95 total years and enjoying its modern revival from 1936 to 2000.
U.S. name popularity from 1880-2025, based on SSA data. Rank shows how the name compares with other names - lower numbers mean greater popularity. Births shows how many babies received the name each year.
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | #17,357 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2005 | #11,726 | 9 | 0.0005% |
| 2004 | #10,584 | 10 | 0.0005% |
| 2003 | #15,533 | 6 | 0.0003% |
| 2002 | #10,143 | 10 | 0.0006% |
| 2000 | #11,664 | 8 | 0.0004% |
| 1999 | #7,183 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1998 | #12,262 | 7 | 0.0004% |
| 1997 | #6,800 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1996 | #5,501 | 18 | 0.0010% |
| 1995 | #5,192 | 19 | 0.0011% |
| 1994 | #5,681 | 17 | 0.0010% |
| 1993 | #6,580 | 14 | 0.0008% |
| 1992 | #2,865 | 42 | 0.0023% |
| 1991 | #2,986 | 39 | 0.0021% |
| 1990 | #3,146 | 36 | 0.0019% |
| 1989 | #2,093 | 60 | 0.0033% |
| 1988 | #1,861 | 67 | 0.0038% |
| 1987 | #1,645 | 75 | 0.0043% |
| 1986 | #1,492 | 84 | 0.0049% |
| 1985 | #1,360 | 97 | 0.0056% |
| 1984 | #1,533 | 75 | 0.0045% |
| 1983 | #1,472 | 79 | 0.0047% |
| 1982 | #1,638 | 71 | 0.0042% |
| 1981 | #1,786 | 63 | 0.0038% |
| 1980 | #1,702 | 67 | 0.0040% |
| 1979 | #1,751 | 63 | 0.0039% |
| 1978 | #1,407 | 83 | 0.0054% |
| 1977 | #1,714 | 61 | 0.0040% |
| 1976 | #1,563 | 65 | 0.0044% |
| 1975 | #1,478 | 70 | 0.0048% |
| 1974 | #1,770 | 51 | 0.0035% |
| 1973 | #1,415 | 70 | 0.0048% |
| 1972 | #1,766 | 50 | 0.0033% |
| 1971 | #1,441 | 73 | 0.0044% |
| 1970 | #1,517 | 66 | 0.0038% |
| 1969 | #1,529 | 61 | 0.0036% |
| 1968 | #1,431 | 63 | 0.0038% |
| 1967 | #1,297 | 71 | 0.0043% |
| 1966 | #1,529 | 54 | 0.0032% |
| 1965 | #2,026 | 34 | 0.0019% |
| 1964 | #1,917 | 39 | 0.0021% |
| 1963 | #1,864 | 40 | 0.0021% |
| 1962 | #2,205 | 30 | 0.0015% |
| 1961 | #1,996 | 35 | 0.0017% |
| 1960 | #1,595 | 50 | 0.0025% |
| 1959 | #2,185 | 28 | 0.0014% |
| 1958 | #1,574 | 47 | 0.0023% |
| 1957 | #1,746 | 39 | 0.0019% |
| 1956 | #1,831 | 35 | 0.0017% |
| 1955 | #1,832 | 34 | 0.0017% |
| 1954 | #2,180 | 25 | 0.0013% |
| 1953 | #1,642 | 37 | 0.0020% |
| 1952 | #1,970 | 27 | 0.0015% |
| 1951 | #1,357 | 48 | 0.0027% |
| 1950 | #1,711 | 31 | 0.0018% |
| 1949 | #1,560 | 36 | 0.0021% |
| 1948 | #1,703 | 31 | 0.0018% |
| 1947 | #2,274 | 20 | 0.0011% |
| 1946 | #1,505 | 35 | 0.0022% |
| 1945 | #1,740 | 24 | 0.0018% |
| 1944 | #2,020 | 19 | 0.0014% |
| 1943 | #2,069 | 19 | 0.0014% |
| 1942 | #1,798 | 23 | 0.0017% |
| 1941 | #2,014 | 18 | 0.0015% |
| 1940 | #2,399 | 13 | 0.0011% |
| 1939 | #3,395 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1938 | #3,425 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1937 | #3,404 | 8 | 0.0008% |
| 1936 | #3,669 | 7 | 0.0007% |
| 1935 | #4,150 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1933 | #2,845 | 10 | 0.0010% |
| 1932 | #2,812 | 11 | 0.0010% |
| 1931 | #4,286 | 6 | 0.0006% |
| 1930 | #2,196 | 16 | 0.0014% |
| 1929 | #3,361 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1928 | #3,138 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1927 | #3,831 | 8 | 0.0007% |
| 1926 | #4,256 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1925 | #3,624 | 9 | 0.0007% |
| 1924 | #4,386 | 7 | 0.0006% |
| 1923 | #5,622 | 5 | 0.0004% |
| 1922 | #3,131 | 11 | 0.0009% |
| 1921 | #3,977 | 8 | 0.0006% |
| 1919 | #3,423 | 9 | 0.0008% |
| 1918 | #3,210 | 10 | 0.0009% |
| 1917 | #5,233 | 5 | 0.0005% |
| 1915 | #3,106 | 9 | 0.0009% |
| 1914 | #3,556 | 6 | 0.0008% |
| 1913 | #3,138 | 6 | 0.0010% |
| 1912 | #2,929 | 6 | 0.0011% |
| Year | Rank | Births | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | #383 | 829 | 0.0485% |
| 2024 | #377 | 864 | 0.0504% |
| 2023 | #363 | 898 | 0.0526% |
| 2022 | #358 | 918 | 0.0526% |
| 2021 | #341 | 958 | 0.0548% |
| 2020 | #322 | 1,023 | 0.0593% |
| 2019 | #310 | 1,094 | 0.0610% |
| 2018 | #283 | 1,245 | 0.0686% |
| 2017 | #271 | 1,333 | 0.0720% |
| 2016 | #265 | 1,379 | 0.0727% |
| 2015 | #246 | 1,496 | 0.0781% |
| 2014 | #257 | 1,452 | 0.0756% |
| 2013 | #252 | 1,452 | 0.0768% |
| 2012 | #225 | 1,568 | 0.0827% |
| 2011 | #229 | 1,579 | 0.0831% |
| 2010 | #201 | 1,820 | 0.0949% |
| 2009 | #200 | 1,920 | 0.0968% |
| 2008 | #192 | 2,092 | 0.1026% |
| 2007 | #172 | 2,375 | 0.1144% |
| 2006 | #164 | 2,552 | 0.1242% |
| 2005 | #143 | 2,745 | 0.1374% |
| 2004 | #140 | 2,851 | 0.1436% |
| 2003 | #128 | 3,142 | 0.1591% |
| 2002 | #114 | 3,349 | 0.1725% |
| 2001 | #102 | 3,738 | 0.1924% |
| 2000 | #95 | 4,137 | 0.2106% |
| 1999 | #85 | 4,543 | 0.2366% |
| 1998 | #78 | 5,013 | 0.2623% |
| 1997 | #68 | 5,415 | 0.2873% |
| 1996 | #59 | 6,008 | 0.3172% |
| 1995 | #57 | 6,556 | 0.3444% |
| 1994 | #49 | 7,482 | 0.3873% |
| 1993 | #47 | 8,370 | 0.4268% |
| 1992 | #45 | 9,308 | 0.4660% |
| 1991 | #41 | 10,526 | 0.5210% |
| 1990 | #39 | 11,943 | 0.5815% |
| 1989 | #40 | 11,736 | 0.5865% |
| 1988 | #40 | 11,607 | 0.6064% |
| 1987 | #38 | 11,551 | 0.6187% |
| 1986 | #36 | 11,875 | 0.6448% |
| 1985 | #36 | 12,210 | 0.6606% |
| 1984 | #35 | 12,096 | 0.6702% |
| 1983 | #35 | 11,564 | 0.6451% |
| 1982 | #38 | 10,631 | 0.5859% |
| 1981 | #39 | 10,302 | 0.5751% |
| 1980 | #40 | 10,063 | 0.5640% |
| 1979 | #40 | 9,905 | 0.5753% |
| 1978 | #37 | 9,855 | 0.6002% |
| 1977 | #38 | 9,636 | 0.5864% |
| 1976 | #37 | 9,726 | 0.6198% |
| 1975 | #34 | 9,733 | 0.6233% |
| 1974 | #35 | 10,101 | 0.6424% |
| 1973 | #32 | 9,958 | 0.6389% |
| 1972 | #29 | 11,037 | 0.6806% |
| 1971 | #27 | 13,101 | 0.7408% |
| 1970 | #27 | 14,760 | 0.7943% |
| 1969 | #27 | 15,090 | 0.8438% |
| 1968 | #27 | 14,762 | 0.8493% |
| 1967 | #26 | 15,088 | 0.8652% |
| 1966 | #26 | 14,743 | 0.8266% |
| 1965 | #28 | 14,649 | 0.7875% |
| 1964 | #29 | 14,967 | 0.7511% |
| 1963 | #29 | 14,993 | 0.7383% |
| 1962 | #28 | 15,615 | 0.7548% |
| 1961 | #27 | 16,061 | 0.7562% |
| 1960 | #27 | 16,263 | 0.7628% |
| 1959 | #28 | 16,505 | 0.7732% |
| 1958 | #26 | 17,961 | 0.8463% |
| 1957 | #24 | 19,727 | 0.9144% |
| 1956 | #23 | 21,204 | 1.0024% |
| 1955 | #21 | 22,155 | 1.0756% |
| 1954 | #20 | 21,879 | 1.0731% |
| 1953 | #21 | 21,808 | 1.1057% |
| 1952 | #21 | 23,054 | 1.1861% |
| 1951 | #19 | 22,472 | 1.1935% |
| 1950 | #19 | 20,511 | 1.1457% |
| 1949 | #19 | 20,488 | 1.1550% |
| 1948 | #20 | 17,060 | 0.9723% |
| 1947 | #21 | 15,328 | 0.8378% |
| 1946 | #24 | 11,833 | 0.7286% |
| 1945 | #26 | 8,639 | 0.6419% |
| 1944 | #28 | 7,795 | 0.5720% |
| 1943 | #29 | 7,931 | 0.5557% |
| 1942 | #32 | 7,503 | 0.5433% |
| 1941 | #41 | 5,811 | 0.4731% |
| 1940 | #49 | 4,422 | 0.3815% |
| 1939 | #65 | 3,176 | 0.2869% |
| 1938 | #74 | 2,726 | 0.2458% |
| 1937 | #92 | 2,133 | 0.2000% |
| 1936 | #99 | 1,862 | 0.1795% |
| 1935 | #113 | 1,650 | 0.1585% |
| 1934 | #121 | 1,424 | 0.1379% |
| 1933 | #126 | 1,321 | 0.1332% |
| 1932 | #124 | 1,389 | 0.1330% |
| 1931 | #130 | 1,334 | 0.1283% |
| 1930 | #138 | 1,257 | 0.1145% |
| 1929 | #126 | 1,356 | 0.1261% |
| 1928 | #130 | 1,336 | 0.1206% |
| 1927 | #125 | 1,446 | 0.1283% |
| 1926 | #130 | 1,335 | 0.1202% |
| 1925 | #122 | 1,482 | 0.1328% |
| 1924 | #110 | 1,636 | 0.1444% |
| 1923 | #109 | 1,605 | 0.1464% |
| 1922 | #101 | 1,722 | 0.1582% |
| 1921 | #97 | 1,868 | 0.1696% |
| 1920 | #96 | 1,771 | 0.1664% |
| 1919 | #97 | 1,694 | 0.1728% |
| 1918 | #96 | 1,843 | 0.1818% |
| 1917 | #89 | 1,892 | 0.2044% |
| 1916 | #87 | 1,877 | 0.2109% |
| 1915 | #86 | 1,850 | 0.2180% |
| 1914 | #80 | 1,486 | 0.2270% |
| 1913 | #86 | 1,097 | 0.2140% |
| 1912 | #88 | 928 | 0.2158% |
| 1911 | #84 | 486 | 0.2151% |
| 1910 | #96 | 350 | 0.1802% |
| 1909 | #91 | 314 | 0.1915% |
| 1908 | #94 | 280 | 0.1814% |
| 1907 | #95 | 273 | 0.1859% |
| 1906 | #102 | 207 | 0.1555% |
| 1905 | #93 | 246 | 0.1859% |
| 1904 | #117 | 178 | 0.1389% |
| 1903 | #96 | 200 | 0.1677% |
| 1902 | #94 | 210 | 0.1712% |
| 1901 | #109 | 158 | 0.1484% |
| 1900 | #127 | 181 | 0.1203% |
| 1899 | #98 | 178 | 0.1676% |
| 1898 | #99 | 195 | 0.1589% |
| 1897 | #94 | 194 | 0.1721% |
| 1896 | #113 | 164 | 0.1372% |
| 1895 | #104 | 179 | 0.1525% |
| 1894 | #103 | 174 | 0.1503% |
| 1893 | #101 | 175 | 0.1558% |
| 1892 | #104 | 178 | 0.1459% |
| 1891 | #106 | 140 | 0.1384% |
| 1890 | #109 | 156 | 0.1405% |
| 1889 | #101 | 164 | 0.1483% |
| 1888 | #98 | 187 | 0.1547% |
| 1887 | #92 | 165 | 0.1627% |
| 1886 | #90 | 181 | 0.1634% |
| 1885 | #93 | 158 | 0.1466% |
| 1884 | #93 | 165 | 0.1442% |
| 1883 | #98 | 140 | 0.1338% |
| 1882 | #81 | 201 | 0.1768% |
| 1881 | #89 | 147 | 0.1459% |
| 1880 | #84 | 176 | 0.1593% |
Name popularity over more than a century, based on Social Security Administration data. Gaps in the chart indicate years when the name does not appear in the published records.
