Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Stephen is of Greek origin, derived from 'Stephanos', meaning 'crown'. It evolved through several languages, maintaining its meaning related to honor. The name carries biblical relevance as the first martyr in Christianity, contributing to its historical popularity. Today, it is seen as classic and strong, with notable figures in various fields.
Etymology & Cultural Background
Pronunciation
/ˈstiːvən/
Origin
Greek
Etymology
The name Stephen comes from the Greek name 'Stephanos', which means 'crown' or 'garland'. It was often given to signify honor and victory.
Meaning
crown
Language Evolution
Stephanos (Greek), Stephanus (Latin), Stefan (Old High German), Steven (Middle English), Stephen (Modern English)
Biblical Background
Stephen is a significant figure in the New Testament, known as the first Christian martyr.
Historical Usage
The name Stephen gained popularity in the Christian world after the early church period, especially due to St. Stephen's martyrdom, and remained common throughout the Middle Ages.
Variants & Derivatives
Stefan, Steven, Stefano, Esteban
Modern Popularity & Image
Today, Stephen is viewed as a classic name with a strong historical and religious significance, often associated with intelligence and leadership.
Famous People
Stephen Hawking, Stephen King, Stephen Curry, Stephen Colbert
📊 Trend Analysis
Girl Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
Boy Name Trend
Recent 3-Year Analysis
Explore More Name Visualizations
Key Insights
Popularity Trend
Highly Popular name with 23,081 peak births in 1952
Geographic Spread
Popular across 51 US states, with strongest presence in Rhode Island
Historical Span
Data spanning 145 years from 1880 to 2024, showing long-term trends
Generational Impact
Influenced 13 different American generations with varying popularity
🔊 Alternative Spellings & Similar Sounds (12 Variations)
Explore names that share identical pronunciation with different spellings. These variations offer alternative options for parents seeking unique yet familiar-sounding choices. This curated collection includes 12 carefully selected variations that maintain the same phonetic sound while providing distinct spelling options.
Why consider alternative spellings? Different spellings can offer unique cultural significance or personal preference while maintaining the familiar sound. This collection covers various spelling patterns, helping you find variations that match your preferences.
Historical Birth Statistics
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History
Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 96th of 7545 | 28,434 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 62nd of 6773 | 63,065 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 22nd of 7552 | 349,884 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 28th of 10718 | 192,207 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 43rd of 16616 | 163,765 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 130th of 24088 | 48,839 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 295th of 23106 | 14,112 |
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Girl | 3742nd of 9107 | 106 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Girl | 2577th of 9204 | 215 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Girl | 1799th of 12526 | 667 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 1575th of 19264 | 1,002 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 2238th of 27321 | 856 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 14352nd of 35406 | 84 |
Regional Popularity by Generation - Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
9.32% 132nd/1416 |
3.63% 50th/1379 |
9.93% 235th/2366 |
14.97% 171st/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
4.53% 70th/1546 |
2.19% 34th/1556 |
5.95% 140th/2353 |
3.30% 51st/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
1.26% 28th/2227 |
0.62% 15th/2430 |
0.91% 26th/2853 |
0.90% 25th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
1.33% 39th/2937 |
0.69% 24th/3483 |
0.74% 26th/3518 |
0.91% 37th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
1.44% 53rd/3685 |
0.80% 36th/4475 |
0.71% 37th/5194 |
0.90% 57th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
3.45% 158th/4582 |
1.76% 91st/5164 |
1.57% 115th/7313 |
2.69% 201st/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
8.61% 343rd/3984 |
4.90% 220th/4487 |
4.27% 291st/6822 |
5.77% 362nd/6276 |
Regional Popularity by Generation - Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- |
100.00% 1379th/1379 |
- | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- |
90.55% 1409th/1556 |
- | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- |
53.50% 1300th/2430 |
100.00% 2853rd/2853 |
70.27% 1950th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
64.86% 1905th/2937 |
48.95% 1705th/3483 |
55.80% 1963rd/3518 |
41.32% 1671st/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
73.89% 2723rd/3685 |
44.58% 1995th/4475 |
44.11% 2291st/5194 |
39.16% 2474th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - |
94.65% 6922nd/7313 |
- |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity
This map shows relative popularity across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.
Comprehensive Regional & Generational Popularity Trends in the United States
This name shows strongest popularity in Rhode Island across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the Baby Boomers generation in the Northeast region. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is declining in usage, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been gradually declining. From 2020-2022, usage has been falling for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, falling for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, falling for male in South, stalled for female in South, stalled for male in West, stalled for female in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been falling for male in MidWest, stalled for female in MidWest, falling for male in Northeast, stalled for female in Northeast, too rising for male in South, stalled for female in South, falling for male in West, stalled for female in West. Across generations, popularity patterns vary significantly: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 96th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 62nd out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 22nd out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 28th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 43rd out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 130th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 295th out of 23106 names. Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 3742nd out of 9107 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 2577th out of 9204 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1799th out of 12526 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1575th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 2238th out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 14352nd out of 35406 names. Explore how this name has evolved through American history with comprehensive regional and generational analysis.