Sebastian Name Meaning

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:

• Top 1,000 Baby Boy Names

• 300 Popular Baby Names Ending in A, N, and Y

• 100 Greek Baby Names and Meanings

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Read the original article on Parents.