Stephen

The name Stephen carries the meaning "the crowned one" or "the garlanded one" and is also interpreted as "the victor." It is the English version of the name Stephan, which traces back to the Latinized form Stephanus, which in turn has its origin in the Ancient Greek name Stephanos (Στέφανος).

What does the name Stephen mean?

Stephen is translated as "the crowned one" or "the garlanded one" and can also be understood as "the victor." This masculine first name is the English variant of Stephan, a German form of the Latinized name Stephanus, which derives from the Ancient Greek name Stephanos (Στέφανος). The roots of Stephen lie in Ancient Greek, where the word Stéphanos (Στέφανος) means "crown," "garland," "wreath," "victory wreath," "honor," "reward," and "prize." Additionally, it may come from the verb stéphein (στέφειν), meaning "to encircle" or "to crown," or from stéphō (στέφω), meaning "to make round" or "to surround." Particularly among Christians, the name has great significance as Saint Stephen is regarded in the Acts of the Apostles in the New Testament as the first Christian martyr who was stoned to death. Variants of the name include Stephen, Estephen, Stephon, Stephanas, Stephano, and Steph. Notable people with this name include physicist Stephen Hawking and author Stephen King.

Where does the name Stephen come from?

The name Stephen has its roots in Ancient Greek and means "the crowned one."

How do you pronounce Stephen?

The pronunciation of Stephen is two syllables and internationally shaped. The name is pronounced as "Ste-phen" [ˈstiːfən] or in a Germanized form as [ˈʃteːfən]. It begins with a clear, elongated vowel that conveys openness. The consonant sequence in the middle provides structure, while the final syllable "-phen" softly fades out, rounding off the name harmoniously. This gives Stephen a classic, self-assured, and present feel – with a structured build and a gentle resonance.

When is the name day of Stephen?

The name days for Stephen are February 2, August 16, December 26, and December 27.

Popularity

In Germany, Stephen is a common first name. Currently, it ranks 4,024th on the list of the most common male first names. Its best ranking was in 1952 when it reached 176th place. In the last ten years, the name has been given about 80 times as a first name, placing it 2,649th in the ten-year statistics. From 2010 to 2024, it ranks 2,481st.

Nicknames & pet names

Eppen / Stepilli / Steppi / Steve / Stevo

Similar first names

Famous people

• Dr. Stephen Strange (character in Doctor Strange)
• Matthew Stephen Cassidy (footballer from England)
• Stephen Amell (actor from Canada)
• Stephen Bogardus (American actor)
• Stephen Colbert (American comedian)
• Stephen Coletti (actor)
• Stephen Daldry (director)
• Stephen Dürr (actor)
• Stephen Finney (rugby player from Great Britain)
• Stephen Fry (actor, writer, screenwriter, and director)
• Stephen Gately (singer)
• Stephen Gause (musician from America)
• Stephen Gilchrist (British musician)
• Stephen Graham Jones (American author)
• Stephen Harrigan (writer from the USA)
• Stephen Hawking (astro-physicist and former holder of the Lucasian Chair of Mathematics)
• Stephen Hunter (New Zealand actor)
• Stephen James Hart (role in 'Primeval')
• Stephen King (author)
• Stephen Kramer Glickman (American actor)