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Sebastian Baby boy name meaning, origin, and popularity

Sebastian name meaning and origin

The name Sebastian has a long history, beginning in third-century Rome. The name means "venerable" or "revered" and comes from the Latin name Sebastianus, which means "from Sebaste." (Sebaste was a city that is now Sivas, Turkey.)

The name of the town has Greek origins and is derived from the word σεβαστός, or sebastos, which means venerable. Someone who is venerable has earned respect, usually because they're wise and have integrity.

The name Sebastian is typically pronounced "suh-bas-chen." It's popular around the world, particularly in Europe, and there are variations of the pronunciation including, "seh-bas-dyan," "zeh-bas-tyan," and "seh-bahs-tee-ahn." The most common spelling of this name is Sebastian, but variants include:

  • Šebestián (Czech)
  • Sebastián (Spanish)
  • Sébastien (French)
  • Sebastiano (Italian)
  • Sebastião (Portuguese)
  • Sebastianos (Greek)
  • Sebastijan (Croatian)

The popularity of the name Sebastian in Catholic countries is linked to Saint Sebastian. Catholic tradition states that Sebastian was a Roman soldier serving under Emperor Diocletian, who regularly murdered citizens for their religious beliefs. Sebastian was discovered to be a Christian and was tied to the stake and shot with arrows.Legend says he survived under the care of Saint Irene of Rome, only to be beaten to death by Diocletian upon his return to Rome.He would later be named a saint who provides special care for archers, athletes, and martyrs as well as protection from the plague.

Sainthood isn't the only historical reference for this name. It also belonged to a king ruling Portugal in the 16th century. King Sebastian was killed in battle in a crusade. His death actually triggered a myth and an entire belief system called Sebastianism, stating that he would return to Portugal in the future as a type of messianic hero defending the monarchy.

In the United States, Sebastian first reached the top 100 baby names for boys in the year 2000, when it jumped from numbers 152 to 81 on the Social Security Administration's list. We can't help but wonder if this massive jump had something to do with actor Ryan Phillippe. (He starred as Sebastian Valmont in the teen film Cruel Intentions, released in 1999.) By 2010, Sebastian was ranked number 68, and climbed to spot 19 by 2020.

Among BabyCenter parents, Sebastian has followed a similar path to popularity. Sebastian has been one of the top 50 baby names for boys since 2013. (BabyCenter's ranking is based on data from hundreds of thousands of parents who share their baby's name with us.)

Traditionally, Sebastian is used for boys. However, this name is also given to a small number of baby girls each year. Whether used for boys or girls, Sebastian has several good nicknames, including Seb, Bastian, and Baz.

With a rich history, a melodic flow, and a hint of elegance, Sebastian is a name you can expect to hear more of in the future.

Sebastian name popularity

Popularity over time

babies per million
Source: Social Security Administration & BabyCenter user data

Sebastian in pop culture

Sebastian
The talking crab assigned to keep a close eye on Ariel in The Little Mermaid
Sebastian
Male protagonist in William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night
Sebastian
Fight Club's narrator, whose alternate personality, Tyler Durden, creates the fight club in the novel and movie
Sebastian Valmont
Villain protagonist in the 1999 film Cruel Intentions
Sebastian Wilder
Character played by Ryan Gosling in the 2016 film La La Land
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Famous people named Sebastian

Saint Sebastian
Saint in the Catholic Church who was martyred by Emperor Diocletian
Johann Sebastian Bach
German composer well known for his works composed during the baroque period
Sebastian Melmoth
Pseudonym adopted by author Oscar Wilde
Sebastian Roché
French actor known for roles in Supernatural, General Hospital, and The Vampire Diaries
Sebastián Piñera
Chilean president from 2018 to present
Sébastien Loeb
French professional rally and racing driver with nine world championships and 79 wins under his belt
Sebastian Stan
Romanian-American actor known for playing Bucky Barnes/Winter Soldier in the Marvel Cinematic Universe
Sebastian Bach
Former lead singer of the heavy metal band Skid Row

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