Stephen

Stephen comes from the Latin Stephanus, itself derived from the Greek Stephanos, meaning crown or wreath, referring to the garland awarded to victors in ancient competitions. The name was borne by Saint Stephen, venerated in Christian tradition as the first martyr, which helped spread the name widely across Europe throughout the medieval period. It was also carried by numerous kings, including Stephen I of Hungary, later canonized, and King Stephen of England. Closely related forms include the English variant Steven, the French Étienne, the Italian Stefano, the Spanish Esteban, and the Scottish Gaelic Steaphan.