Baby Names Boy Names Sebastian Name Meaning Sebastian is frequently used as a boy's name. Learn more about the meaning, origin, and popularity of the name Sebastian. By Sarah Bradley Published on April 24, 2024 Fact checked by Karen Cilli In This Article View All In This Article How Popular Is the Name Sebastian? Name Variations Similar Names Common Nicknames for Sebastian Suggested Sibling Names Famous People Named Sebastian Close 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. Karl Tapales / Getty Images 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: AdrianAlexanderChristosDemetriusHeroNicholasStavrosXander Other Latin boy names include: AnthonyDanteDominicMarcusQuentinRufusVincentXavier Other boy names starting with "S" include: SamuelSawyerSeanSilasSimonSorenSpencerStephenSteven Common Nicknames for Sebastian There are only a couple of nicknames for Sebastian, but they make the name even more likable: SebSebby/SebbieBazBash Suggested Sibling Names Need ideas for what to call Sebastian’s siblings? Here are some suggestions: AdelaideCallistaDanielEloiseFelixHarperHugoMichaelOliverScarlettTheodoreXavier 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 saintSebastian Bach, former member of Canadian heavy metal band Skid RowSebastian Coe, British politician and former athleteSebastian Maniscalco, stand-up comedianSebastian Stan, actor best known for playing Bucky Barnes/the Winter Soldier in the Marvel catalog of films and TV showsSebastian Vettel, German race car driver Fictional Sebastians Lord Sebastian Flyte, a character in Evelyn Waugh’s Brideshead RevisitedSebastian, a character in Shakespeare’s The TempestSebastian, a character in Shakespeare’s Twelfth NightSebastian the crab, Ariel’s fictional crustacean BFF in Disney’s The Little MermaidSebastian 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 Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Sources Parents uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Popular Names in 2022. Social Security Administration. 2023.