How popular is the name Steve?

In 2025, 18 boys born in England and Wales were named Steve, ranking 1,466th. Its peak was 1996, with 28 births.

Is Steve a boy's or a girl's name?

Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 242,131 US babies named Steve since 1880 were boys.

When was Steve most popular?

1959 in the United States, when 11,068 babies were named Steve, its highest rank at 41st.

How do you pronounce Steve?

Steve is /stiːv/, one syllable.

Is Steve also a surname?

Yes. Steve is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.

The first name Steve

A boy’s name from Latin meaning “crown”, “wreath”.

Pronounced /stiːv/ 1 syllable Male Also a surname

Meaning and origin

Latin origin

Steve means “crown”, “wreath” in Latin.

Shortening of various names ultimately derived from Latin Stephanus m, from Ancient Greek Στέφανος m (Stéphanos) from στέφανος m (stéphanos, “crown, wreath”)

Steve is a short form of

From Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Popularity

Babies registered in England and Wales, 1996–2025

In 2025, 18 boys were named Steve, making it the 1,466th most popular boys’ name. It peaked in 1996, with 28 births (#588).

456

babies named Steve, 1996–2025

#1,466

rank in 2025

1996

peak year

Office for National Statistics; years with fewer than three births are not published and show as zero. Compare Steve with other names.

Popularity in the United States

Babies named Steve at birth, 1880–2025

In 2025, 105 boys born in the United States were named Steve, the 1,617th most popular boys’ name that year. It was used most in 1959, when 11,068 were.

242,131

babies named Steve since 1880

#1,617

rank in 2025

1959

peak year

US Social Security Administration, from applications for a Social Security card. A name is only published for a year when at least five babies were given it, so quieter years show as zero.

Famous people named Steve

412 on Wikidata, most written-about first

Steve McQueen
American actor (1930-1980)
Steve Ballmer
American businessman, former chief executive officer of Microsoft, born 1956
Steve Buscemi
American actor, born 1957
Steve Zahn
American actor (born 1967)
Steve Mandanda
French footballer (born 1985)
Steve Bannon
American media executive & political strategist (born 1953)
Steve Nash
Canadian basketball player and coach, born 1974
Steve Vai
American guitarist, born 1960
Steve McQueen
British film director and video artist (born 1969)
Steve Corica
Australian association football player, born 1973
Steve Chen
Chinese-American businessman, born 1978
Steve Perryman
English association football player and manager (born 1951)

More Latin boys’ names

All 381 names of Latin origin

Questions

What does the name Steve mean?: Steve means “crown”, “wreath” in Latin.
What is the origin of the name Steve?: Shortening of various names ultimately derived from Latin Stephanus m, from Ancient Greek Στέφανος m (Stéphanos) from στέφανος m (stéphanos, “crown, wreath”)
How popular is the name Steve?: In 2025, 18 boys born in England and Wales were named Steve, ranking 1,466th. Its peak was 1996, with 28 births.
Is Steve a boy's or a girl's name?: Mostly a boy's name: 100% of the 242,131 US babies named Steve since 1880 were boys.
When was Steve most popular?: 1959 in the United States, when 11,068 babies were named Steve, its highest rank at 41st.
How do you pronounce Steve?: Steve is /stiːv/, one syllable.
Is Steve also a surname?: Yes. Steve is used as a surname as well as a first name; its surname page has the origin and how many people carry it.