The name Stephen derives from the Greek name Stephanos, meaning "crown" or "wreath". It originated in the 1st century AD among early Christians in the Greek-speaking eastern Mediterranean region.

Stephen was a common name among early Christians and one of the first Christian martyrs, St. Stephen, was stoned to death in Jerusalem around 34 AD, according to the Acts of the Apostles in the New Testament. This event helped popularize the name among early Christians.

The name spread throughout Europe during the Middle Ages, appearing in various spellings such as Stefano in Italian, Esteban in Spanish, and Stéphane in French. It was particularly popular in England, where it was introduced by Greek missionaries in the 7th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name was Stephen, the third king of Hungary, who reigned from 1000 to 1038 AD. Another notable early bearer was Stephen Harding, an English monk who founded the Cistercian Order in France in 1098.

Throughout history, there have been several prominent individuals named Stephen. These include Saint Stephen I, Pope from 254 to 257 AD, who established the Church's authority to appoint bishops. Stephen of Blois, a French nobleman and crusader in the 12th century, led armies during the First Crusade.

Other famous Stephens include the writers Stephen Crane (1871-1900), author of "The Red Badge of Courage", and Stephen King (born 1947), known for his horror novels like "The Shining". In the sciences, Stephen Hawking (1942-2018) was a renowned theoretical physicist and cosmologist.

Stephen F. Austin (1793-1836) was an American empresario who played a key role in the colonization of Texas and the Texas Revolution. And Stephen A. Douglas (1813-1861) was an American politician who famously debated Abraham Lincoln during the 1858 Illinois Senate campaign.