Stephen in Chinese
Stephen in Chinese is 斯蒂芬 (Sī Dì Fēn).
- Origin
- Greek
- Meaning
- crown, garland
Stephen is a name of Greek origin, generally understood to mean "crown, garland". It has been in continuous US use since Social Security records begin in 1880, peaking in the 1950s. Names sharing the same root meaning include Stephanie, Steven.
3 ways to write Stephen
phonetic
Following the sound of your name
斯蒂芬
Sī Dì Fēn
The standard transliteration of Stephen: 斯 (sī, "this (phonetic 's')"), 蒂 (dì, "stem of a fruit (phonetic 'di')"), 芬 (fēn, "fragrance"). Chosen for sound, it is instantly recognizable as this name.
Why these characters?
To fit Mandarin syllable rules, the sounds are broken into 3 characters: 斯 sī + 蒂 dì + 芬 fēn. The tone contour is 1-4-1 (high level, falling, high level).
Character breakdown
33 strokes total (simplified)- 斯
sī
Tone 1 · 12 strokes (simplified)
this (phonetic 's')
- 蒂
dì
Tone 4 · 13 strokes (simplified)
stem of a fruit (phonetic 'di')
- 芬
fēn
Tone 1 · 8 strokes (simplified)
fragrance
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
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meaningful
Chosen for meaning and association
胜杰
Shèng Jié
Inspired by "crown, garland": 胜 (shèng, "victory") + 杰 (jié, "outstanding, heroic"), expressing victory and honor.
Why these characters?
胜 (victory) answers the "crown" in Stephen's meaning, and 杰 (outstanding, heroic) rounds it off as a typical ending for boys' names.
Character breakdown
17 strokes total (simplified)- 胜
shèng
Tone 4 · 9 strokes (simplified)
victory
- 杰
jié
Tone 2 · 8 strokes (simplified)
outstanding, heroic
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
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balanced
A balance of sound and meaning
斯冠
Sī Guàn
斯 (sī, "this (phonetic 's')") + 冠 (guàn, "crown; champion"): echoes the sound of the English name while carrying meaning.
Why these characters?
It keeps 斯 (sī), the same opening character as the transliteration 斯蒂芬, for the "ste" sound, and replaces the rest with 冠 ("crown; champion") so the whole reads as a real given name.
Character breakdown
21 strokes total (simplified)- 斯
sī
Tone 1 · 12 strokes (simplified)
this (phonetic 's')
- 冠
guàn
Tone 4 · 9 strokes (simplified)
crown; champion
PNG · black on white
Stroke order
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Popularity in the US
US Social Security records show 856,765 boys named Stephen since 1880, with the high point in 1952 (23,049 births) and the busiest decade being the 1950s. Between 1990 and 2017 it slipped, from #39 to #271 among boys.
- Peak year
- 1952
- Peak decade
- 1950s
- First year
- 1880
- Total since 1880
- 856,765
More About Stephen in Chinese
The Chinese translation of Stephen offers multiple styles to suit different preferences. Whether you prefer a phonetic transliteration that sounds like your name, or a meaningful interpretation that captures the essence of Stephen, you'll find options that work for you.
Names with the same root meaning include Stephanie in Chinese, and Steven in Chinese, which share similar origins or meanings.
If you're exploring Chinese names for boys, you might also be interested in Stephanie in Chinese, Steven in Chinese, and Cameron in Chinese. Each name has its own unique character combinations and meanings.
Other popular choices include Jeffrey in Chinese, Evan in Chinese, Luke in Chinese, Juan in Chinese, and Lucas in Chinese, each with beautiful traditional and simplified character options.
When choosing Chinese characters for Stephen, consider whether you want:
- Phonetic accuracy: Characters that sound like Stephen to native Chinese speakers
- Meaningful symbolism: Characters chosen for their beautiful meanings and cultural significance
- Balanced approach: A combination of sound and meaning that works well in both languages
Browse our complete A-Z index of Chinese names to explore more options, or start with our curated list of popular names in Chinese to see what others are choosing.
Frequently asked questions
What is Stephen in Chinese characters?
斯蒂芬 (Sī Dì Fēn), identical in simplified and traditional script. This is the conventional transliteration used in Chinese media.
How popular is the name Stephen?
US Social Security records show 856,765 boys named Stephen since 1880, with the high point in 1952 (23,049 births) and the busiest decade being the 1950s. Between 1990 and 2017 it slipped, from #39 to #271 among boys.
How many strokes does 斯蒂芬 have?
33 strokes in simplified form; per character: 斯 12, 蒂 13, 芬 8.