Sebastian
Sebastian is a boys' name of Latin origin meaning “venerable, revered.” It ranked #16 in the United States in 2025.
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how do you pronounce Sebastian?
seh-BAS-chun
where does the name Sebastian come from?
From the Greek Sebastos, meaning venerable or revered, which was the Greek rendering of the Latin title Augustus. Sebastianus therefore meant a man from Sebaste, a city named in the emperor's honour, so the name reaches its meaning through a place rather than directly.
Sebastian comes from the Latin 'sebastianus' meaning 'from Sebastia' (modern Sivas, Turkey), associated with the Greek 'sebastos' (revered). Saint Sebastian and Shakespeare's 'Twelfth Night' established its classical-literary pedigree.
how popular is this name?
Sebastian has appeared in the US top 1,000 in 124 years since 1881, and fell outside it for 21. It peaked at #13 in 2022, and ranked #16 in 2025.
See the milestone years
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2025 | #16 |
| 2024 | #14 |
| 2023 | #13 |
| 2022 | #13 |
| 2021 | #19 |
| 2020 | #19 |
| 2019 | #18 |
| 2018 | #18 |
| 2017 | #23 |
| 2016 | #23 |
| 2010 | #68 |
| 2000 | #81 |
| 1990 | #320 |
| 1980 | #665 |
| 1970 | #630 |
| 1960 | #911 |
| 1940 | #881 |
| 1930 | #564 |
| 1920 | #519 |
| 1910 | #822 |
| 1881 | #781 |
Source: SSA National Baby Names Dataset (through 2025). Years absent from the table are years Sebastian fell outside the top 1,000.
the history of Sebastian
St Sebastian, a third-century Roman soldier martyred under Diocletian, became one of the most painted figures in Western art — the arrow-pierced saint was a rare licence for artists to depict the male nude, and he was also invoked against plague. The name is common across Europe and Latin America and entered the American top twenty in the 2010s.
who are famous people named Sebastian?
- Sebastian Bach (German composer J.S. Bach)
- Sebastian Stan (Romanian-American actor)
- Sebastian (The Little Mermaid character)
what are the nicknames and variants of Sebastian?
Nicknames
Variants around the world
what names are similar to Sebastian?
what names go well with Sebastian?
Sibling names that share Sebastian's rhythm and register without echoing it too closely.
quick answers about Sebastian
What does the name Sebastian mean?
Sebastian means “venerable, revered”.
What is the origin of the name Sebastian?
Sebastian comes from the Latin naming tradition. Related forms include Sebastián, Sébastien and Sebastiano.
How popular is the name Sebastian?
Sebastian ranked #16 in the US in 2025, according to Social Security data. Its best year was 2022, at #13, and it has spent 124 years in the top 1,000 since 1881.
Is Sebastian a boy or girl name?
Sebastian is primarily a boys' name.
How do you pronounce Sebastian?
Sebastian is pronounced seh-BAS-chun, with 3 syllables.
Last updated · Curated by HushName editorial
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