Stephen
Stephen or
Steven /ˈstiːvən/ is a masculine first name, derived from the Greek name Στέφανος, in turn from the Greek word "στέφανος", meaning "wreath, crown, honour, reward", literally "that which surrounds or encompasses". In ancient Greece, a wreath was given to the winner of a contest. The use of the noun was first recorded in Homer's
Iliad. The name is significant to Christians: according to the Book of Acts in the New Testament, Saint Stephen was a deacon who was stoned to death and is regarded as the first Christian martyr. The name has many variants, which include
Stephan,
Stevan,
Stefan and
Stevon. In Middle English, the name Stephen or Stephan was pronounced as a bi-syllabic word — Step-hen or Step-han — much like a Scandinavian surname. Steve was pronounced as it is in Modern English. This etymological usage began a decline in the mid-19th century.
Steve is the common short form, while various diminutives such as
Stevie and
Ste are also used. Many family names are derived from Stephen: the most common are
Stephens/Stevens and
Stephenson/Stevenson.