Noah Boy
NOH-uh
“rest, comfort” · Hebrew
#2
Steve
BoyEnglish, Greek· “short form of Stephen, 'crown'”
- Meaning
- short form of Stephen, 'crown'
- Origin
- English, Greek
- Pronunciation
- STEEV
- Syllables
- 1
- US rank 2025
- #1,617
- US babies 2025
- 105
- Best rank
- #41 (1959)
- Peak year
- 1959
Meaning and origin of Steve
Steve is an English and Greek name that means “short form of Stephen, 'crown'”.
Steve is the familiar short form of Stephen and Steven, from the Greek Stephanos, meaning crown or garland. Saint Stephen, described in the Book of Acts as the first Christian martyr, made the long form popular throughout Europe. Steve became common as an everyday name in the twentieth century and is associated with figures such as Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple, and actor Steve McQueen. It is friendly, straightforward and a little retro today. Many parents choose Stephen or Steven for the birth certificate and Steve for daily use.
Popularity over time
Steve has been given to babies in the United States since at least 1880, the first year of Social Security records. It has ranked in the top 1,000 in 137 different years. Its best national rank was #41 in 1959, the same year it reached its highest count of 11,068 babies. In 2025, 105 babies were named Steve, and it ranked #1,617 nationally. That is 53% fewer than ten years earlier, so it is becoming less common.
Its national rank moved from #127 in 1920, #83 in 1950, #201 in 1980, #394 in 2000, #786 in 2010, and #1,617 in 2025. Of the 241,224 US boys named Steve since records began, 27% were born in the 1960s, its biggest decade. The 1950s come next, with 64,212 babies. Since 2010, 3,071 more have been named Steve.
Other boys' names that peaked around the same time include Craig, Mike, Ricky, Dale, and Russell.
Where it is most popular (2025)
In 2025, Steve ranked highest in California, Georgia, and Illinois.
| State | Rank there | Babies |
|---|---|---|
| California | #1036 | 21 |
| Georgia | #1071 | 8 |
| Illinois | #1454 | 5 |
| Florida | #1456 | 8 |
| New York | #2005 | 5 |
Gender, sound and spelling
In the US it is used almost only for boys.
Steve is usually pronounced STEEV, with one syllable. It has five letters, starts with S and ends in “-ve”.
Middle names for Steve
A few middle names that flow with Steve: each avoids a matching first letter, a rhyme and a vowel clash where the names meet.
Sibling names for Steve
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Lists that include Steve
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Steve mean?
Steve is an English and Greek name that means “short form of Stephen, 'crown'”.
What is the origin of the name Steve?
Steve has English and Greek roots. Steve is the familiar short form of Stephen and Steven, from the Greek Stephanos, meaning crown or garland.
Is Steve a popular name?
Not especially. Steve ranked #1,617 in the US in 2025, which puts it outside the top 1,000.
Is Steve a boy or girl name?
Steve is mainly a boy's name. In the US it is used almost only for boys.
How do you pronounce Steve?
Steve is usually pronounced STEEV. 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