What Does the Name Stephen Mean?

Stephen is a boy's name of Greek origin meaning “crown, garland.”

Updated June 2026

Name	Stephen
Gender	male
Origin	Greek
Meaning	crown, garland
Variants	Steven, Stephan, Stefan, Esteban, Stefano
Popularity	Very common in the US through the mid-20th century, peaking around mid-century; both Stephen and Steven have since declined out of the top 200.

The meaning and origin of Stephen

The name Stephen means “crown, garland” and has Greek origins. From the Greek name Stephanos meaning 'crown' or 'wreath,' it was borne by Saint Stephen, the first Christian martyr, ensuring its early and widespread Christian adoption. The spelling Stephen is the traditional English form, alongside the variant Steven.

Variants and related names

Stephen is related to several other names you may recognize: Steven, Stephan, Stefan, Esteban, Stefano. These share a common root or are spelling and language variants of the same name.

How popular is the name Stephen?

Very common in the US through the mid-20th century, peaking around mid-century; both Stephen and Steven have since declined out of the top 200.

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