Stephen

Last seen for girls in 2007 at #15,491 · #383 for boys in 2025, 829 births
Given to boys 99.7% of the time

Showing
Show data for
Peak · boys
1951 · 22,474 births
Debut · boys
176 births
In top 100 · boys
95 yrs
of 146 years
Total births · boys
864,739
since 1880

Stephen over time

boys

Rank among boys' names. Click any year to open it.

#1#10#100rank188019001920194019601980200020201940peak #19, 1951boys
Hover or use arrow keys to read values by year; click or press Enter to open that year.

Gaps mean fewer than 5 babies received the name that year, so the SSA doesn't publish it.

Show data table
Yeargirlsboys
rankbirthsrankbirths
2025—#383829
2024—#374870
2023—#363898
2022—#358919
2021—#339958
2020—#3221,024
2019—#3101,095
2018—#2831,246
2017—#2701,334
2016—#2651,379
2015—#2461,497
2014—#2571,452
2013—#2521,452
2012—#2251,568
2011—#2281,579
2010—#2011,820
2009—#1991,920
2008—#1912,092
2007#15,4916#1722,376
2006—#1642,552
2005#10,9219#1432,745
2004#9,89210#1402,851
2003#13,8446#1283,142
2002#9,48210#1143,349
2001—#1023,738
2000#10,7458#954,137
1999#6,83614#854,543
1998#11,1387#785,013
1997#6,48314#685,414
1996#5,28018#596,008
1995#5,01919#576,556
1994#5,44517#497,481
1993#6,26414#478,369
1992#2,83042#459,308
1991#2,93539#4110,525
1990#3,07836#3911,943
1989#2,07260#4011,736
1988#1,83967#4011,607
1987#1,63075#3811,550
1986#1,48484#3611,877
1985#1,35097#3612,210
1984#1,51175#3512,096
1983#1,46379#3511,564
1982#1,62171#3810,627
1981#1,76763#3910,302
1980#1,69267#4010,062
1979#1,73163#409,903
1978#1,39783#379,854
1977#1,70161#389,635
1976#1,55165#379,727
1975#1,45970#349,732
1974#1,76051#3510,101
1973#1,39970#329,955
1972#1,74950#2911,037
1971#1,42773#2713,102
1970#1,50566#2714,758
1969#1,51761#2715,090
1968#1,41863#2714,761
1967#1,28171#2615,087
1966#1,51554#2614,742
1965#1,99334#2814,648
1964#1,89239#2914,968
1963#1,83940#2914,992
1962#2,16330#2815,616
1961#1,95535#2716,069
1960#1,58050#2716,267
1959#2,15228#2816,504
1958#1,55747#2617,962
1957#1,72839#2419,726
1956#1,79635#2321,204
1955#1,80334#2122,155
1954#2,12225#2021,878
1953#1,62237#2121,807
1952#1,93427#2123,055
1951#1,33948#1922,474
1950#1,67931#1920,511
1949#1,54336#1920,488
1948#1,66931#2017,061
1947#2,20020#2115,328
1946#1,48135#2411,832
1945#1,69924#268,641
1944#1,96719#287,793
1943#1,99419#297,932
1942#1,76023#327,503
1941#1,95418#415,811
1940#2,29713#494,423
1939#3,1458#653,176
1938#3,1818#742,726
1937#3,1468#922,133
1936#3,3767#991,862
1935#3,7426#1131,650
1934—#1211,424
1933#2,68810#1261,321
1932#2,64411#1241,389
1931#3,8486#1291,334
1930#2,11016#1381,257
1929#3,1379#1261,357
1928#2,95410#1301,335
1927#3,5618#1251,446
1926#3,8737#1301,335
1925#3,3629#1221,482
1924#4,0027#1101,635
1923#4,9675#1091,605
1922#2,95811#1011,722
1921#3,6668#971,868
1920—#961,771
1919#3,2199#971,693
1918#3,02410#961,843
1917#4,5945#891,892
1916—#871,877
1915#2,9009#861,850
1914#3,1886#801,486
1913#2,8276#861,097
1912#2,6346#88928
1911—#83486
1910—#95350
1909—#90314
1908—#94280
1907—#94273
1906—#102207
1905—#93246
1904—#117178
1903—#96200
1902—#94210
1901—#108158
1900—#127181
1899—#97178
1898—#98195
1897—#94194
1896—#113164
1895—#103179
1894—#103174
1893—#101175
1892—#104178
1891—#106140
1890—#107156
1889—#101164
1888—#98187
1887—#91165
1886—#89181
1885—#93158
1884—#93165
1883—#97140
1882—#81201
1881—#88147
1880—#84176
First appearance
1880

In the first year the SSA published name data, Stephen was already there! It came in at #84, and was given to 176 baby boys.


Quietest stretch: 1880–1904, when fewer than 220 boys a year got the name.

Where Stephen is popular in 1940

  • Rank in state
  • Top 10
  • 11–50
  • 51–100
  • 101–500
  • 501+
  • Not published
Alaska: fewer than 5 boys named Stephen, so not publishedAKMaine: #35 for boys · 46 births · 1 in 139 boysMEVermont: #26 for boys · 24 births · 1 in 106 boysVTNew Hampshire: #29 for boys · 28 births · 1 in 125 boysNHWashington: #34 for boys · 80 births · 1 in 157 boysWAIdaho: #69 for boys · 19 births · 1 in 255 boysIDMontana: #96 for boys · 11 births · 1 in 429 boysMTNorth Dakota: #118 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 620 boysNDMinnesota: #51 for boys · 86 births · 1 in 278 boysMNIllinois: #51 for boys · 213 births · 1 in 277 boysILWisconsin: #71 for boys · 66 births · 1 in 381 boysWIMichigan: #58 for boys · 149 births · 1 in 309 boysMINew York: #22 for boys · 909 births · 1 in 103 boysNYMassachusetts: #25 for boys · 274 births · 1 in 112 boysMARhode Island: #29 for boys · 41 births · 1 in 112 boysRIOregon: #33 for boys · 51 births · 1 in 155 boysORNevada: fewer than 5 boys named Stephen, so not publishedNVWyoming: fewer than 5 boys named Stephen, so not publishedWYSouth Dakota: #108 for boys · 10 births · 1 in 505 boysSDIowa: #74 for boys · 55 births · 1 in 383 boysIAIndiana: #26 for boys · 185 births · 1 in 154 boysINOhio: #52 for boys · 191 births · 1 in 284 boysOHPennsylvania: #36 for boys · 405 births · 1 in 190 boysPANew Jersey: #30 for boys · 180 births · 1 in 151 boysNJConnecticut: #26 for boys · 90 births · 1 in 124 boysCTCalifornia: #28 for boys · 359 births · 1 in 147 boysCAUtah: #22 for boys · 61 births · 1 in 91 boysUTColorado: #53 for boys · 41 births · 1 in 240 boysCONebraska: #69 for boys · 28 births · 1 in 347 boysNEMissouri: #59 for boys · 104 births · 1 in 281 boysMOKentucky: #142 for boys · 35 births · 1 in 816 boysKYWest Virginia: #74 for boys · 51 births · 1 in 380 boysWVVirginia: #104 for boys · 47 births · 1 in 520 boysVAMaryland: #55 for boys · 49 births · 1 in 275 boysMDDelaware: #39 for boys · 11 births · 1 in 166 boysDEArizona: #108 for boys · 11 births · 1 in 456 boysAZNew Mexico: #235 for boys · 5 births · 1 in 1,192 boysNMKansas: #77 for boys · 36 births · 1 in 360 boysKSArkansas: #186 for boys · 16 births · 1 in 1,203 boysARTennessee: #152 for boys · 28 births · 1 in 997 boysTNNorth Carolina: #85 for boys · 81 births · 1 in 457 boysNCSouth Carolina: #134 for boys · 26 births · 1 in 816 boysSCDistrict of Columbia: #22 for boys · 52 births · 1 in 122 boysDCOklahoma: #123 for boys · 32 births · 1 in 666 boysOKLouisiana: #167 for boys · 24 births · 1 in 943 boysLAMississippi: #271 for boys · 9 births · 1 in 2,422 boysMSAlabama: #176 for boys · 24 births · 1 in 1,201 boysALGeorgia: #140 for boys · 34 births · 1 in 916 boysGAHawaii: #45 for boys · 24 births · 1 in 150 boysHITexas: #155 for boys · 80 births · 1 in 778 boysTXFlorida: #94 for boys · 32 births · 1 in 483 boysFL

Hover or tap a state for its numbers.

Top states · boys
  1. Utah#22 · 1 in 91
  2. New York#22 · 1 in 103
  3. District of Columbia#22 · 1 in 122
  4. Massachusetts#25 · 1 in 112
  5. Vermont#26 · 1 in 106

Best ever in a state: #7 in Maine, 1951.

Show every state
StateRankBirthsShare
District of Columbia#22521 in 122
New York#229091 in 103
Utah#22611 in 91
Massachusetts#252741 in 112
Connecticut#26901 in 124
Indiana#261851 in 154
Vermont#26241 in 106
California#283591 in 147
New Hampshire#29281 in 125
Rhode Island#29411 in 112
New Jersey#301801 in 151
Oregon#33511 in 155
Washington#34801 in 157
Maine#35461 in 139
Pennsylvania#364051 in 190
Delaware#39111 in 166
Hawaii#45241 in 150
Illinois#512131 in 277
Minnesota#51861 in 278
Ohio#521911 in 284
Colorado#53411 in 240
Maryland#55491 in 275
Michigan#581491 in 309
Missouri#591041 in 281
Idaho#69191 in 255
Nebraska#69281 in 347
Wisconsin#71661 in 381
Iowa#74551 in 383
West Virginia#74511 in 380
Kansas#77361 in 360
North Carolina#85811 in 457
Florida#94321 in 483
Montana#96111 in 429
Virginia#104471 in 520
Arizona#108111 in 456
South Dakota#108101 in 505
North Dakota#11891 in 620
Oklahoma#123321 in 666
South Carolina#134261 in 816
Georgia#140341 in 916
Kentucky#142351 in 816
Tennessee#152281 in 997
Texas#155801 in 778
Louisiana#167241 in 943
Alabama#176241 in 1,201
Arkansas#186161 in 1,203
New Mexico#23551 in 1,192
Mississippi#27191 in 2,422
Alaska———
Nevada———
Wyoming———

Ranks are within each state; “1 in N” is out of the boys born there that year. The SSA only publishes a name in a state when 5 or more babies of one sex got it.

See more about Stephen
Momentum · boys
Holding steady
  • 9 spots since 2024 (#374 → #383)
  • 61 spots since 2020 (#322 → #383)
  • 137 spots since 2015 (#246 → #383)
  • Biggest jump: 24 spots in 1905 (#117 → #93)
  • Biggest drop: 30 spots in 1900 (#97 → #127)
Rise & fade · boys
71 yrs to peak
  • Debuted 1880
  • Peaked 1951 at #19 (22,474 births)
  • Births halved by 1972, 21 yrs later
Top of the charts · boys
Top 100 for 95 yrs
  • Top 10: never
  • Top 100: 95 yrs · run 1936–2000
  • Top 1,000: 146 yrs · run 1880–2025
Share of babies · boys
1 in 84
  • Highest: 1 in 84 boys born in 1951 were named Stephen (1.2%)
  • Latest: 1 in 2,060 boys born in 2025 (0.05%)
Era · boys
The 1950s
  • 24.0% of all boys named Stephen (207,276) were born in this decade
Show by decade
DecadeBirthsBest rankAvg rank
1880s1,684#81 (1882)#92
1890s1,733#94 (1897)#103
1900s2,247#90 (1909)#102
1910s13,502#80 (1914)#89
1920s15,556#96 (1920)#115
1930s18,272#65 (1939)#108
1940s106,812#19 (1949)#29
1950s207,276#19 (1951)#22
1960s152,240#26 (1967)#27
1970s107,804#27 (1970)#34
1980s113,631#35 (1984)#38
1990s75,160#39 (1990)#57
2000s28,902#95 (2000)#145
2010s14,422#201 (2010)#254
2020s5,498#322 (2020)#357

All figures count published births only (names given to at least 5 boys in a year). Registrations before 1937 are incomplete, so early shares and totals run low.

Stephen in 1940

girls
#2,297
13 births · 1 in 87,964 girls
boys
#49
4,423 births · 1 in 262 boys

Top girls' names in 1940

  1. #1Mary56,216
  2. #2Barbara36,736
  3. #3Patricia32,665
  4. #4Judith22,385
  5. #5Betty22,077
  6. #6Carol21,759
  7. #7Nancy19,737
  8. #8Linda18,370
  9. #9Shirley17,881
  10. #10Sandra16,153
  11. #2,297Stephen13

Top boys' names in 1940

  1. #1James62,481
  2. #2Robert61,198
  3. #3John54,786
  4. #4William44,779
  5. #5Richard37,425
  6. #6Charles31,689
  7. #7David27,690
  8. #8Thomas23,991
  9. #9Donald23,115
  10. #10Ronald20,741
  11. #49Stephen4,423
More about 1940

girls

1,143,528 girls got a published name in 1940; 1 in 87,964 of them was named Stephen, which outranked 54.3% of the 5,028 girls' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 23.1% of girls (24.6% in 1880, 7.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Stephen
  1. #2,203Willine14
  2. #2,203Yvonna14
  3. #2,203Zenith14
  4. #2,297Stephen13
  5. #2,297Adaline13
  6. #2,297Afton13
  7. #2,297Alethea13
  8. #2,424Alejandra12
  9. #2,424Alvin12
  10. #2,424Alys12

Tied with 126 names at #2,297; 3 shown. Tied names share a rank, as in SSA's lists.

Biggest movers since 1939
Risers
  1. ↑ 2,494Scarlett#3,429 → #935
  2. ↑ 1,465Lonna#2,206 → #741
  3. ↑ 834Pam#1,797 → #963
  4. ↑ 659Jody#1,638 → #979
  5. ↑ 633Laraine#1,474 → #841
Fallers
  1. ↓ 481Fredia#996 → #1,477
  2. ↓ 430Eleanora#974 → #1,404
  3. ↓ 375Danielle#811 → #1,186
  4. ↓ 342Eloisa#930 → #1,272
  5. ↓ 298Coral#996 → #1,294

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

boys

1,159,172 boys got a published name in 1940; 1 in 262 of them was named Stephen, which outranked 98.8% of the 3,937 boys' names that year. The ten most popular names covered 33.5% of boys (44.2% in 1880, 8.0% in 2025).

Ranked beside Stephen
  1. #46Anthony4,769
  2. #47Harry4,681
  3. #48Norman4,576
  4. #49Stephen4,423
  5. #50Louis4,324
  6. #51Johnny4,006
  7. #52Earl3,944
Biggest movers since 1939
Risers
  1. ↑ 565Whitney#1,458 → #893
  2. ↑ 447Gonzalo#1,297 → #850
  3. ↑ 419Weston#1,323 → #904
  4. ↑ 368Ashley#1,272 → #904
  5. ↑ 366Agustin#1,238 → #872
Fallers
  1. ↓ 886Montie#916 → #1,802
  2. ↓ 446Verlon#888 → #1,334
  3. ↓ 394Issac#857 → #1,251
  4. ↓ 392Otho#942 → #1,334
  5. ↓ 384Pearl#867 → #1,251

Among names in the top 1,000 of either year.

See the top 100 for 1940 →