Boy · Greek · Christian
Stephen
StephenSay it STEE-vun
- Meaning
- Crown, wreath; a badge of royalty or victory Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, G4736 (same as G4735)
- Say it
- STEE-vun
- Other spellings
- Steven
Stephen
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Stephen meaning
Stephen is a Christian boy's name of Greek origin.
Crown, wreath; a badge of royalty or victory
Stephen comes from the Greek name Stephanos, the same word as stephanos, a crown or wreath. Strong's describes it as a wreath worn as a badge of royalty, a prize in the public games or a mark of honour, so the name carries the picture of a victor's or a king's garland. Its most famous bearer is Saint Stephen, one of the seven men chosen to serve the early church in Jerusalem. His preaching and his death by stoning are told in Acts 6 and 7, and Christians honour him as the first martyr, with a feast on 26 December in the Catholic calendar. In India the name is used mainly in Christian families.
Source: Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890), Greek Dictionary of the New Testament, G4736 (same as G4735) · entry Stephanos · See the entry · checked 25 Oct 2026
References: Strong's Greek G4736, Stephanos · Strong's Greek G4735, stephanos · Vatican News, St Stephen, first martyr
Famous namesakes
- Saint Stephen, the first Christian martyr (Acts 6–7)
Popularity abroad
- #383 United States, boys 2025 (down 8 from 375 in 2024)
US Social Security Administration - #716 England and Wales, boys 2025
Office for National Statistics
Official birth registrations. India publishes no national name statistics.
Spellings
Stephen · Steven