Data-driven popularity statistics, SSA rankings, and historical trends for the name Stephen.
National Rank (2025)
#383
All-Time Peak Rank
#19 (1949)
Total U.S. Births
864,739
Unisex Distribution99.7% Boy / 0.3% GirlBalance: Overwhelmingly Male
💡 The Stephen Vibe: This choice is considered a Perennial Favorite. A historic staple that has maintained dominant national popularity for over half a century.
📖 The Story Behind Stephen
According to SSA data, Stephen achieved its highest historical rank of #19 in 1949. Its highest annual registration volume occurred in 1952 with 23,055 babies. Between 2015 and 2025, modern registrations have decreased by 44.6%. Overall, the name has maintained a ranked presence for 146 consecutive years.
📊 Factual Timeline & Current Trajectory (1880 – 2025)
Watch how the absolute registration footprint of the name Stephen scaled historically over the last century:
5-Year Trajectory Velocity
Declining
10-Year Decadal Shift Change
-44.6% Decline
18801920196020002025
📈 Popularity Milestones & Volatility
Busiest Year on Record23,055Births in 1952
Years in Top 100
95yrs
Registry Appearance Streak
146Years
Historical VolatilityModerately Volatile
Decade-by-Decade Registration Volumes
1880s:1,684
1890s:1,733
1900s:2,247
1910s:13,502
1920s:15,556
1930s:18,272
1940s:106,812
1950s:207,276
1960s:152,240
1970s:107,804
1980s:113,631
1990s:75,160
2000s:28,902
2010s:14,422
2020s:5,498
📐 Sound & Spelling Structure
Phonetic SyllablesSte-phen
Letter Count7 Letters
Spelling ComplexityModerate
Linguistic Profile Narrative: Longer than 54.1% of SSA names. Starts with S, a letter used by only 7.9% of SSA names.
🛠️ Rhythm & Cadence Engine
Need a middle name or matching choice that pairs cleanly with Stephen? Enter a surname or older sibling name below to test structural meter and syllable cohesion:
BabyNameAnalytics