Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Sebastian
BoyLatin, Greek· “from Sebaste; venerable”
- Meaning
- from Sebaste; venerable
- Origin
- Latin, Greek
- Pronunciation
- suh-BAS-chuhn
- Syllables
- 3
- US rank 2025
- #16
- US babies 2025
- 8,605
- Best rank
- #13 (2022)
- Peak year
- 2016
Meaning and origin of Sebastian
Sebastian is a Latin and Greek name that means “from Sebaste; venerable”.
Sebastian comes from the Latin Sebastianus, "man from Sebaste", the name of towns in Asia Minor. Sebaste itself comes from the Greek sebastos, "venerable", the Greek equivalent of the title Augustus. Saint Sebastian, a Roman soldier martyred in the third century, became one of the most painted figures of Renaissance art. Shakespeare used the name for characters in Twelfth Night and The Tempest, and King Sebastian of Portugal, who vanished in battle in North Africa, inspired legends of his return. Johann Sebastian Bach carried it as a middle name. It feels sophisticated and romantic, with Seb and Bastian as nicknames.
Famous parents who chose Sebastian: Anderson Cooper and Benjamin Maisani (2022). More celebrity baby names
Popularity over time
Sebastian first appears in US Social Security records in 1881. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 121 different years, starting in 1881. Its best national rank was #13 in 2022, and the most babies received it in 2016, when 10,309 were named Sebastian. In 2025, 8,605 babies were named Sebastian, and it ranked #16 nationally. Its use has been fairly steady over the past decade.
Its national rank moved from #520 in 1920, #1,103 in 1950, #669 in 1980, #81 in 2000, #68 in 2010, and #16 in 2025. Of the 218,055 US boys named Sebastian since records began, 40% were born in the 2010s, its biggest decade. The 2000s come next, with 53,866 babies.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Owen, Carter, Wyatt, Grayson, and Julian.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Sebastian ranked highest in California, Texas, and Nevada.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| California | #5 | 1,954 |
| Texas | #5 | 1,498 |
| Nevada | #6 | 106 |
| New Mexico | #6 | 69 |
| Arizona | #7 | 277 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Sebastian is usually pronounced suh-BAS-chuhn, with three syllables. It has nine letters, starts with S and ends in “-an”.
Middle names for Sebastian
A few middle names that flow with Sebastian: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Sebastian
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Lists that include Sebastian
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Sebastian mean?
Sebastian is a Latin and Greek name that means “from Sebaste; venerable”.
What is the origin of the name Sebastian?
Sebastian has Latin and Greek roots. Sebastian comes from the Latin Sebastianus, "man from Sebaste", the name of towns in Asia Minor.
Is Sebastian a popular name?
Yes. Sebastian ranked #16 in the US in 2025, which makes it one of the 100 most popular names.
Is Sebastian a boy or girl name?
Sebastian is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Sebastian?
Sebastian is usually pronounced suh-BAS-chuhn. Stressed syllables are in capital letters.
Popularity figures come from US Social Security card applications (names given to at least five babies in a year, 1880 to 2025). How we source names and meanings