Sebastian

Venerable, revered — a boy name of Greek origin

GenderBoy
OriginGreek
MeaningVenerable, revered
Pronunciationseh-BAS-chun

Popularity of Sebastian in the United States

#16Rank in 2025
8,605Births in 2025
#13 in 2022Peak Popularity
↑ Rising10-Year Trend

Data: U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA). Based on all Social Security card applications for births in the United States.

Meaning & Origin of Sebastian

Sebastian derives from the Greek name Sebastianos, meaning "from Sebastia," a city in Asia Minor whose name comes from the Greek "sebastos" meaning "venerable" or "revered" — the Greek equivalent of the Latin title Augustus. The most famous historical bearer is Saint Sebastian, a 3rd-century Roman soldier and Christian martyr who was sentenced to death by arrows under Emperor Diocletian. The name has been widely used across European cultures, particularly in Spain, Germany, and Italy. In modern times, Sebastian has risen dramatically in popularity in the English-speaking world, consistently ranking in the top 20 boy names in the United States.

Sebastian Around the World

Sebastian is used in 6 languages worldwide, with 16+ international variants.

Languages
GermanPolishEnglishDutchRomanianSlovene
Details

Female FormSebastiana

International Variants
Bastian
SébastienFrench
SebastiãoPortuguese
SebastiaanDutch
SebastianoItalian
SebastiánSpanish
SebastianusDutch
SebastiàCatalan
Sebastiaen
SebastjanSlovene
SebastiansLatvian
SebestyénHungarian
BosćijUpper Sorbian
SevastianRomanian
BastGerman
SzebasztiánHungarian

Linguistic data: Wikidata (CC0). Variants and language usage may vary by region.

Nicknames for Sebastian

SebBashBastian

Famous People Named Sebastian

  • Sebastian Bach — German Baroque composer (Johann Sebastian Bach)
  • Sebastian Vettel — German Formula 1 racing driver
  • Sebastian Stan — Romanian-American actor

Similar Names to Sebastian

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Sibling Name Ideas for Sebastian

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does the name Sebastian mean?

Sebastian is a boy name of Greek origin meaning "Venerable, revered." Sebastian derives from the Greek name Sebastianos, meaning "from Sebastia," a city in Asia Minor whose name comes from the Greek "sebastos" meaning "venerable" or "revered" — the Greek equivalent of the Latin title Augustus. The most famous historical bearer is Saint Sebastian, a 3rd-century Roman soldier and Christian martyr who was sentenced to death by arrows under Emperor Diocletian.

How do you pronounce Sebastian?

Sebastian is pronounced seh-BAS-chun. Common variations include Sebastien, Sebastiano, Bastian.

Is Sebastian a boy name?

Yes, Sebastian is traditionally a boy name. Popular nicknames include Seb, Bash, Bastian.

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