Sebastian Name Meaning
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Sebastian is frequently used as a boy's name. Learn more about the meaning, origin, and popularity of the name Sebastian.
Fact checked by Karen Cilli
Sebastian means “venerable” or "revered." The name has both Greek and Latin roots.
It originates from the Greek word sebastos or the Latin word Sebastianus, which was used to refer to a person from Sebaste, the name of a town in Anatolia, also known as Asia Minor, that is now the city of Sivas in Türkiye.
The name is well-known, largely thanks to Saint Sebastian, an early Christian saint who was martyred by the Roman emperor Diocletian. Saint Sebastian remains a favorite saint within the Catholic Church, serving as the patron saint of archers, athletes, and those who desire a saintly death.
Origin: Sebastian is a Greek and Latin name meaning “venerable.”
Gender: Sebastian is traditionally used as a boy's name. In French and Italian, there are feminized versions (Sébastienne and Sebastiana, respectively).
Pronunciation: seh-BASH-tee-uhn
Editor's Note
Although many baby names are separated by gender, Parents believes that sex does not need to play a role in your name selection process. It’s important to select a name that you feel suits your new baby the best.
How Popular Is the Name Sebastian?
The name Sebastian has become especially popular over the past several years, becoming the 13th most popular name for those who identify as male in 2022, according to the Social Security Administration.
The name was somewhat admired from the 1910s through the 1930s, before losing favor and falling completely out of the top 1,000 names in 1950. However, it began making a comeback more recently when well-known celebrities, like James Spader and Tommy Hilfiger, chose the name for their sons. It also was the name of the lead character played by actor Ryan Gosling in the 2016 movie musical La La Land, as well as the crab in Disney's The Little Mermaid.
Name Variations
The following names are variations on Sebastian:
Bastian (Bastian)
Sebastián (Spanish)
Sebastiani (Swahili)
Sebastiano (Italian)
Sebastianos (Greek)
Sebastião (Portuguese)
Similar Names
Other Greek boy names include:
Adrian
Alexander
Christos
Demetrius
Hero
Nicholas
Stavros
Xander
Other Latin boy names include:
Anthony
Dante
Dominic
Marcus
Quentin
Rufus
Vincent
Xavier
Other boy names starting with "S" include:
Samuel
Sawyer
Sean
Silas
Simon
Soren
Spencer
Stephen
Steven
Common Nicknames for Sebastian
There are only a couple of nicknames for Sebastian, but they make the name even more likable:
Seb
Sebby/Sebbie
Baz
Bash
Suggested Sibling Names
Need ideas for what to call Sebastian’s siblings? Here are some suggestions:
Adelaide
Callista
Daniel
Eloise
Felix
Harper
Hugo
Michael
Oliver
Scarlett
Theodore
Xavier
Famous People Named Sebastian
Sebastian may seem like a unique moniker, but there are actually quite a few people (past, present, and fictional) who carry this strong and stalwart name. From a singer and a comedian to an animated crab and the Winter Soldier himself, below are some famous Sebastians.
Famous Sebastians
Saint Sebastian, martyred Christian saint
Sebastian Bach, former member of Canadian heavy metal band Skid Row
Sebastian Coe, British politician and former athlete
Sebastian Maniscalco, stand-up comedian
Sebastian Stan, actor best known for playing Bucky Barnes/the Winter Soldier in the Marvel catalog of films and TV shows
Sebastian Vettel, German race car driver
Fictional Sebastians
Lord Sebastian Flyte, a character in Evelyn Waugh’s Brideshead Revisited
Sebastian, a character in Shakespeare’s The Tempest
Sebastian, a character in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night
Sebastian the crab, Ariel’s fictional crustacean BFF in Disney’s The Little Mermaid
Sebastian Valmont, Ryan Phillippe’s bad boy character 1999’s Cruel Intentions
More Baby Names
Still searching for the perfect baby name? Check out these related baby name lists for even more options:
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Read the original article on Parents.