Boy New Testament Known
Stephen
same as Stephanas
Στέφανος Stephanos
Stephen (Greek: Στέφανος, Stephanos) is a biblical name; its Greek etymology is not securely established. It appears in 7 verses across 1 book of the Bible. In 2025 it was given to 829 children in the United States, ranking 383. Use is falling away. Around 867,669 Americans have been given it since 1880. Appears in the same passages as Agabus.
The bearer in scripture
One person in scripture bears this name.
-
Stephen
Scripture against society
The two measures, side by side
At a glance
- Verses
- 7 across 1 book
- Bearers
- 1 one person only
- Testament
- New
- Era
- Apostolic
The same name elsewhere
| Country | Form | Standing | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Stephen | rank 383 · 829 in 2025 | Births in year |
| Brazil | ESTEVAO | 16,421 bearers · born 1930–2010 | Living residents |
| Spain | ESTEBAN | 28,434 bearers · mean age 52.1 | Living residents |
| Portugal | Estêvão | permitted | IRN approved list |
Two different questions are shown here. Rows marked births in year count children registered during a period; rows marked living residents count people of every age alive at a census. They answer different questions and are never added together.
Using it today
Based on 2025 births across the United States.
| Measure | Value | Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Given in 2025 | 829 | Falling |
| All-time total | 867,669 | Since records begin in 1880 |
| Peak | 23,082 in 1952 | Its highest year on record |
| Strongest state | TX | Highest share relative to births |
In scripture
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First appears | Acts 6:5 |
| Last appears | Acts 22:20 |
| Cross-references | 224 linked passages |
Names connected to this one
- Timon co-occurrence Appears with Timon in Acts 6.
- Prochorus co-occurrence Appears with Prochorus in Acts 6.
- Nicanor co-occurrence Appears with Nicanor in Acts 6.
- Nicolaus co-occurrence Appears with Nicolaus in Acts 6.
- Parmenas co-occurrence Appears with Parmenas in Acts 6.
- Philip co-occurrence Appears with Philip in Acts 6.
- Agabus co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Agabus.
- Gamaliel co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Gamaliel.
Origin & meaning
Στέφανος, -ου, ὁ
Stephen: Act.6:5, 8-9 7:59 8:2 11:19 22:20.†
(AS)
Stephen, one of the seven deacons chosen by the early church, was full of faith and the Holy Spirit, performed miracles, and became the first Christian martyr after his powerful testimony before the Sanhedrin.
The biblical story
Stephen was one of the seven men chosen by the early church in Jerusalem to serve as deacons, responsible for the daily distribution of food to widows (Act.6.1-6). He is described as being full of faith, wisdom, and the Holy Spirit (Act.6.5, 8).
As Stephen continued to perform wonders and signs among the people, he faced opposition from members of the Synagogue of the Freedmen, who disputed with him (Act.6.9). However, they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke (Act.6.10).
Consequently, they brought false charges against Stephen, accusing him of blasphemy against Moses and God (Act.6.11-14). When brought before the Sanhedrin (the Jewish high court), Stephen's face was said to have appeared like the face of an angel (Act.6.15).
In his defense, Stephen delivered a powerful speech recounting Israel's history and their rejection of God's prophets, culminating in their rejection of Jesus as the Righteous One (Act.7.1-53). He accused his hearers of resisting the Holy Spirit and persecuting the prophets, just as their fathers had done (Act.7.51-52).
Enraged by his words, the members of the Sanhedrin gnashed their teeth at Stephen, but he, full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God (Act.7.54-55). When he declared this vision, they dragged him out of the city and stoned him to death, with a young man named Saul (later known as Paul) guarding the garments of those who carried out the execution (Act.7.56-60).
As he was being stoned, Stephen called out to the Lord Jesus to receive his spirit and, echoing Jesus' words on the cross, asked God not to hold this sin against his persecutors (Act.7.59-60). Devout men buried Stephen and lamented deeply over him (Act.8.2).
Stephen's martyrdom marked a significant turning point in the early church, as it sparked a great persecution against the church in Jerusalem, leading to the dispersion of believers throughout Judea and Samaria (Act.8.1, 11:19). This dispersion ultimately led to the spread of the gospel beyond Jerusalem, fulfilling Jesus' command to be his witnesses to the ends of the earth (Act.1.8).
Key verses
Stephen appears in 7 verses. Here are some of the most notable:
-
And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:
Acts 6:5 -
And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.
Acts 6:8 -
Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen.
Acts 6:9 -
And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
Acts 7:59 -
And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him.
Acts 8:2
Show all 7 references
Acts (7)
- Acts 6:5
- Acts 6:8
- Acts 6:9
- Acts 7:59
- Acts 8:2
- Acts 11:19
- Acts 22:20
Name variants & nicknames
- Steve — nickname
- Stevie — nickname
- Steven — spelling variant
- Esteban — Spanish
- Estêvão — Portuguese
- Stephanos — Greek form