Stephen is a boy name with a classic feel, drawn from real birth records. Below you'll find what Stephen means and where it comes from, plus how many babies have been named Stephen across the United States, UK, Ireland and New Zealand, how popular Stephen has been over the decades, and the year it peaked.
Stephen is a boy name of Greek origin meaning “crown, garland”. the first Christian martyr.
| Country | Births on record |
|---|---|
| United States since 1880 | 867,669 births |
| England & Wales since 1996 | 8,853 births |
| Scotland since 1974 | 14,608 births |
| Northern Ireland since 1997 | 1,150 births |
| Ireland since 1964 | 26,368 births |
| New Zealand top 100, since 1954 | 18,603 births |
Counts come from official national birth-registration statistics: U.S. Social Security Administration, England & Wales (Office for National Statistics), Scotland (National Records of Scotland), Northern Ireland (NISRA), Ireland (Central Statistics Office) and New Zealand (Dept. of Internal Affairs). Coverage spans differ, so totals aren't directly comparable across countries.
Babies named Stephen per year, United States (1880 to 2025). United States peaked in 1952 (23,082/yr) · England & Wales peaked in 1996 (1,122/yr) · Ireland peaked in 1983 (1,116/yr) · Scotland peaked in 1974 (866/yr) · Northern Ireland peaked in 1998 (144/yr).
Stephen has been one of the most popular baby names in the United States. It was most common in 1952, when it ranked #35 nationally (given to 23,082 babies that year), and a popular choice in the 1950s.
Steven · Stephanie · Stefan · Stephani · Stephan · Stephany · Stephon · Stephenie
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