Stephen
/S-T-IY-V-AH-N/
Crown or wreath, from Greek Stephanos (Στέφανος), derived from stephein, to encircle or crown. The crown in question was originally the victor's garland of laurel or olive in Greek athletic and civic life. Stephen of Jerusalem, who received a crown of martyrdom as the first Christian martyr, fixed the name in the Christian tradition with particular force.
Get Stephen's full report — patron saint, feast day & a portrait — freeQuick — what every Christian parent asks about Stephen:
How well does Stephen fit your family?
This page tells you what Stephen means. The app tells you whether it's right for your baby — scored against your family & your heritage, and your baby's birth details.
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Six signals — scored for your family & heritage, not in the abstract:
Meaning & origin
Yes — Stephen is a Christian boy name of Greek origin, meaning “Crown or wreath, from Greek Stephanos (Στέφανος), derived from stephein, to encircle or crown. The crown in question was originally the victor's garland of laurel or olive in Greek athletic and civic life. Stephen of Jerusalem, who received a crown of martyrdom as the first Christian martyr, fixed the name in the Christian tradition with particular force.”.
Stephen is a boy's name of Greek origin, traditionally used in Christian families. The name means "Crown or wreath, from Greek Stephanos (Στέφανος), derived from stephein, to encircle or crown. The crown in question was originally the victor's garland of laurel or olive in Greek athletic and civic life. Stephen of Jerusalem, who received a crown of martyrdom as the first Christian martyr, fixed the name in the Christian tradition with particular force." and belongs to the Nobility cluster — names with regal heritage and dignified bearing.
Common among European, Greek, Singaporean families, Stephen carries cultural weight that goes beyond its dictionary definition — it's a name with a story and a community.
The patron saint & feast day behind Stephen
Many Christian names carry a patron saint and a feast day (name day) — a tradition of choosing a name for the saint a child is born near, or one the family holds dear. Stephen lives in this tradition of meaning and heritage.
NameRoot connects the dots. See Stephen's patron saint, its feast day, and whether it aligns with your baby's birth — alongside its full family score.
See Stephen's saint & feast day →What does Stephen's numerology say?
Numerology assigns each name a single-digit destiny number by summing its letter values. Different schools use different mappings — NameRoot computes both so you can see how Stephen resonates in either tradition.
Stephen's destiny number is 33 — but a number only matters in context. The app matches it to your family's own numbers for a real compatibility read. See Stephen's full reading →
Does Stephen go with your family's names?
Stephen breaks into 6 sounds: /S-T-IY-V-AH-N/. The real test isn't how it sounds alone — it's how it sounds beside the names already in your family: yours, your partner's, and any brothers or sisters. NameRoot scores that harmony, so Stephen sits naturally next to a Mum and Dad like Michael & Anna, or a big sister named Gianna — no awkward clashes, no two names that blur together. Hear Stephen beside your family's names →
Nicknames
Common affectionate forms of Stephen — useful for everyday family conversation, early childhood, or as standalone given names themselves.
Names similar to Stephen
If Stephen resonates with you, these names live in the same world — drawn from the same tradition, sharing the same meaning, or echoing a similar sound.
From the same tradition
Other Christian boy names, common in European families
Sharing the same meaning
Other Christian boy names from the Nobility cluster
Names that sound similar
Christian boy names that open with the same syllables as Stephen
Explore more names
Keep exploring names like Stephen — by tradition, by meaning, or by first letter.
Common questions about Stephen
What does the name Stephen mean?
Stephen means "Crown or wreath, from Greek Stephanos (Στέφανος), derived from stephein, to encircle or crown. The crown in question was originally the victor's garland of laurel or olive in Greek athletic and civic life. Stephen of Jerusalem, who received a crown of martyrdom as the first Christian martyr, fixed the name in the Christian tradition with particular force.." It is a boy name of Greek origin, traditionally used in Christian families.
Is Stephen a boy or girl name?
Stephen is most commonly used as a boy name.
What is the origin of the name Stephen?
Stephen is of Greek origin, used in Christian tradition, commonly among European, Greek, Singaporean families.
Is Stephen a Christian name?
Yes. Stephen is a boy name traditionally used in Christian families, of Greek origin.
What does Stephen mean in Greek?
Stephen originates from Greek, where it means "Crown or wreath, from Greek Stephanos (Στέφανος), derived from stephein, to encircle or crown. The crown in question was originally the victor's garland of laurel or olive in Greek athletic and civic life. Stephen of Jerusalem, who received a crown of martyrdom as the first Christian martyr, fixed the name in the Christian tradition with particular force.."
What are common nicknames for Stephen?
Common short forms of Stephen include Steve, Stevie.
What is the numerology of Stephen?
Stephen has a Pythagorean destiny number of 33 — the master teacher — unconditional love in action.
See how Stephen scores for your family
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