MallowbyNames

Sebastian

suh-BAS-chun · From Latin Sebastianus, "man from Sebastia", a city whose name derives from Greek sebastos, "venerable," the Greek rendering of the imperial title Augustus.

2025 rank (boys)
#16
Babies named in 2025
8,605
Peak popularity
2018
2025 frequency
1 in 198 boys
Usually for
Boys
Trend
Rising since 1985

Rising since 1985, #16 for boys today.

Popularity of Sebastian since 1881

Babies named Sebastian per year in U.S. Social Security records.

3.4k6.9k10.3k192019602000Most births 2016Boys
Data table (by decade)
DecadeBoys
1880s34
1890s43
1900s89
1910s838
1920s1,231
1930s774
1940s574
1950s500
1960s1,113
1970s1,413
1980s2,839
1990s14,599
2000s53,866
2010s86,688
2020s53,454

Meaning & origin

Sebastian is maximal in an era that rewards it, four flowing syllables, an arrow-pierced saint, a Shakespeare role, Bach's middle name, and its climb into the American top 20 shows how completely tastes swung from the clipped Marks and Todds of midcentury. The 2025 numbers place it 16th among boys, with about 1 in every 198 newborns receiving the name.

The rise has been remarkably sustained: upward since 1985, cresting in 2018, and holding near that level since. Two currents feed it. English-speaking parents came to the name through its literary, faintly aristocratic register (Brideshead Revisited's Sebastian Flyte, the crab in The Little Mermaid for a generation of 1990s kids). Hispanic families, meanwhile, made Sebastián one of the leading names in the Spanish-speaking world, and the name's strongest states, California, New Mexico, and the District of Columbia, reflect exactly that bicultural fluency.

Few top-20 names offer this much room to maneuver: Seb for the understated, Bash for the playful, the full four-syllable sweep for formal occasions. Its companions in style are the other romance-language revivals, Leonardo, Mateo, Valentina, all names that would have sounded operatic on an American playground in 1985 and now simply sound current.

Sebastian descends from Latin Sebastianus, originally an ethnic label meaning "man from Sebastia," a city in Asia Minor. The city's name comes from Greek sebastos, "venerable" or "revered", the word Greeks used to translate the Roman imperial title Augustus, which gives the name an imperial glint at one remove. Its spread owes everything to Saint Sebastian, a third-century soldier-martyr whose arrow-pierced figure became one of the most painted subjects in Western art; invoked against plague, he made the name common in medieval France, Spain, and Italy. Shakespeare used it twice (Twelfth Night, The Tempest), and Johann Sebastian Bach fixed it in the cultural firmament. American use was modest for most of the twentieth century before a long climb that began in 1985 and carried the name into the top 20.

Read more: Sebastian on Wikipedia

Where Sebastian is most popular

Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.

2020s
Fewermore per 100k boystoo few births

Sebastian” around the world

Where Sebastian lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.

  • France

    35

    babies in 2024

  • Ireland

    43

    babies in 2025

  • New Zealand

    #78

    in 2025

  • Quebec

    21

    babies in 2025

  • Australia (NSW)

    #31

    in 2025

Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · NZ Dept of Internal Affairs (New Zealand) · Retraite Québec (Quebec) · NSW Registry of BDM (Australia (NSW)).

Nicknames & variants

Nicknames: Seb, Bash, Baz

Variants: Sebastián, Sébastien, Sebastiano, Bastian

Famous people named Sebastian

  • Saint Sebastian · third-century Christian martyr, a favorite subject of Renaissance painters
  • Sebastian Vettel · German four-time Formula One world champion
  • Sebastian Stan · Romanian-American actor known as Bucky Barnes in the Marvel films

Sibling names for Sebastian

Names that share Sebastian's style, for a brother or sister.

Sisters: Valentina, Isabella, Penelope, Anastasia, Camila, Emilia, Sofia, Sophia, Adriana, Adrienne, Alicia, Angelica, Angelique, Arabella, Ariana, Arianna, Cecelia, Celeste, Daniela, Gabriela, Gabrielle, Genevieve, Itzel, Juliana, Juliette, Liliana, Lilliana, Marina, Miranda, Natalia, Noemi, Priscilla, Valeria, Viviana, Vivienne, Ximena, Abriella, Adelina, Adriane, Adrianna, Adrianne, Aitana, Alethea, Amairani, Anabel, Anahi, Analia, Angeline, Annabella, Annastasia, Audriana, Aurelia, Calista, Callista, Camellia, Camilla, Caprice, Carina, Carolina, Casandra, Cataleya, Catalina, Cecily, Celestine, Christianna, Clementina, Cordelia, Corinne, Corrina, Cristina, Daniella, Dayana, Dayanara, Delphine, Demetra, Eleanora, Emmeline, Esmeralda, Estefania, Estefany, Estela, Evangelina, Evangeline, Evelina, Faviola, Fernanda, Francisca, Galilea, Grecia, Hortense, Ileana, Iliana, Isabela, Izabella, Jimena, Juliet, Julieta, Julissa, Kalliope, Katalina, Laryssa, Leandra, Leonor, Leonora, Leticia, Luciana, Magdalena, Magdalene, Marcela, Mariana, Marianna, Marlena, Martina, Mathilda, Matilda, Micaela, Mirabelle, Nathalia, Nathaly, Nicholette, Nicolette, Noelia, Ophelia, Philomena, Portia, Rebeca, Rosalina, Rosalinda, Rowena, Serina, Sirena, Stephania, Tatianna, Theodora, Thomasina, Ursula, Valorie, Vanesa, Vienna, Violeta, Xiomara, Yamile, Yamileth, Yaretzi, Yuliana, Abrielle, Adamari, Adamaris, Adriene, Adrina, Alejandrina, Alethia, Aleyda, Anahy, Analee, Anali, Analicia, Analiese, Analise, Anamaria, Anastacia, Andreina, Andriana, Angelene, Angelika, Anjelica, Annalia, Annaliese, Antonina, Arabelle, Aranza, Ariadna, Arianne, Arizbeth, Augustina, Avelina, Bibiana, Briseida, Calandra, Camillia, Celestina, Cesia, Charlette, Clarabelle, Clarisa, Coralie, Corrinne, Dariana, Darianna, Dayami, Dominica, Eimy, Eleonora, Elliette, Emiliana, Estefani, Estephanie, Evalina, Fabiana, Florencia, Gisella, Gissell, Harmonie, Hermione, Honora, Illiana, Imogen, Isadora, Izabel, Izabela, Jenevieve, Joceline, Josephina, Juliane, Julietta, Julisa, Kathia, Klarissa, Korina, Lavender, Leanora, Lillianne, Lucia, Lucila, Madelaine, Madelene, Madelon, Marena, Mariaelena, Maribelle, Marielena, Merida, Milla, Mirabella, Mirian, Nayelli, Nerissa, Nidia, Odalis, Odette, Oriana, Orianna, Priscila, Romelia, Rosana, Samanta, Samaria, Sarena, Sebrina, Seraphina, Tatyanna, Theadora, Venetia, Viktoria, Viridiana, Vivianna, Yahaira, Yanira, Yoselyn, Ysabella, Adelena, Adreana, Adrena, Adrienna, Adryanna, Airabella, Aleecia, Alexanderia, Alexiana, Aliciana, Alisandra, Alissandra, Alydia, Alynna, Alyxandra, Amariana, Amarianna, Amarilis, Ameliana, Anaisa, Anaiz, Analea, Analiah, Analilia, Analiz, Analucia, Anasofia, Anastazia, Andreya, Andrianna, Anelise, Angelicia, Angelin, Angelise, Angelli, Angelyna, Anjelina, Annaleise, Annelyse, Antasia, Anyeli, Arcadia, Arianah, Ariani, Ariany, Arienne, Asiana, Astoria, Atziri, Aurianna, Berenise, Beronica, Bianey, Biridiana, Camilia, Carolena, Catalaya, Cattaleya, Cecillia, Cesilia, Charlese, Charlise, Charlotta, Charmian, Christabel, Christella, Cintia, Cipriana, Clairissa, Clarrissa, Clorissa, Constantina, Constanza, Coraima, Corinthia, Corynne, Cristel, Dallana, Damiana, Daviana, Davianna, Delphina, Demitria, Eleora, Eleyna, Elianny, Eliany, Ellarose, Emanuelle, Emelina, Esmerelda, Estefanie, Eugena, Evaluna, Evamarie, Evianna, Ezabella, Ezmeralda, Florentina, Florentine, Genavieve, Genevive, Genieve, Giavana, Glorianna, Hannia, Ilianna, Illeana, Iriana, Isabeau, Ivania, Ivyanna, Jacqulin, Jamileth, Janeli, Jatziry, Jezabel, Josiephine, Kalysta, Karianna, Karmella, Katalaya, Katalyna, Katiana, Katrinia, Katryna, Kristianna, Lacretia, Lareina, Latitia, Laurena, Lavena, Leonela, Letticia, Lilianne, Lissett, Lizett, Lizmarie, Lizzet, Loralie, Lorelie, Loriana, Lorianna, Madeliene, Madelina, Mariafernanda, Mariaisabel, Maribell, Maribella, Marifer, Marionna, Marquerite, Massiel, Mayeli, Meridian, Michaeline, Michalene, Miliana, Milliana, Natallie, Natally, Nathalee, Nayelie, Nicolasa, Nikolette, Nohemy, Oliviana, Orelia, Patrisia, Pennelope, Pricila, Primrose, Princella, Priscillia, Raissa, Reigna, Romayne, Rosabella, Rosiland, Rosmery, Sabreena, Sabryna, Samarra, Sapphira, Sareena, Selenia, Seraphine, Sheccid, Soliana, Steffi, Sujey, Talina, Talulah, Teretha, Titania, Toria, Toriana, Vaneza, Viviane, Willamina, Xandra, Yamila, Yamilett, Yamilette, Yeimy, Yennifer, Yliana, Yomaira, Ysabelle, Yuriana, Adaliz, Adianna, Adilenne, Adraine, Adrianah, Adriannah, Adriella, Adriyanna, Aeliana, Aerabella, Aerianna, Ahtziry, Alessandria, Alexandrina, Alexianna, Alexina, Alexzandrea, Aliani, Alitzel, Alixandra, Almadelia, Alysandra, Amarilys, Amarissa, Amayrani, Ambriel, Amiliana, Anaalicia, Anahis, Analena, Analeya, Analina, Analisia, Analissa, Analiza, Anallely, Analysa, Anasophia, Anastasha, Anastashia, Anelis, Aneliz, Angelice, Angelik, Angelisse, Annalese, Annalisia, Annalisse, Annaliza, Annalysia, Annalyssa, Antania, Anthonella, Anthonia, Antonique, Antonya, Antoria, Anysia, Apolonia, Arabell, Ariabella, Arianelly, Aribelle, Arielis, Artemisa, Aubreyana, Audreana, Audreyana, Audrielle, Auriana, Auriella, Averianna, Aviyana, Bellamie, Bellarose, Biviana, Carinne, Carolyna, Castella, Catalea, Catalia, Catalyna, Cathalina, Ceceilia, Celenia, Celest, Chandelle, Christabella, Clarrisa, Claryssa, Coriana, Corrinna, Cristabel, Dahiana, Daliana, Danyela, Darianny, Darielys, Demiana, Doriann, Elanora, Elasia, Eleonore, Elianis, Elianne, Elianys, Elisandra, Elisea, Elizeth, Emilianna, Esperanza, Eugina, Evalise, Evangela, Evangelene, Evelia, Everlina, Evolette, Febe, Felishia, Felisia, Francenia, Franziska, Genecis, Geneieve, Geneveive, Genoveva, Graciana, Graciella, Gwendoline, Gyselle, Haidee, Hiliana, Irianna, Itzabella, Jacquelynne, Jacquiline, Jamilet, Jeneva, Jeweliana, Jilliana, Jissel, Juliannah, Julianny, Juliany, Julionna, Julliana, Karolyne, Kataleia, Katalia, Kateria, Kathalina, Katherina, Katiria, Klaryssa, Krystiana, Laritza, Larrissa, Lauriel, Lilieth, Lissandra, Loralye, Lucciana, Lucianne, Madelena, Magdalynn, Magdelena, Marcedes, Margueritte, Mariesa, Marimar, Marleni, Meliana, Meriel, Millianna, Mirranda, Monse, Natalyah, Nathalya, Omayra, Pahola, Prisila, Rosabell, Rosalena, Roselina, Roselyne, Sabrine, Sabrinia, Safira, Saprina, Saraphina, Sebastiana, Sedalia, Sereena, Serenna, Serrina, Seryna, Sinthia, Siria, Stefanny, Stephana, Subrena, Subrina, Sybella, Sylvanna, Syriana, Taliana, Trinita, Ulyssa, Valaria, Valecia, Vanessia, Varonica, Venicia, Veronia, Yareliz, Yarelli, Yuliet, Yulieth, Zabella, Zarianna, Alicianna, Allyssia, Alyscia, Amanie, Analese, Anelisse, Arabela, Estefanny, Estephani, Evangaline, Isabele, Jacqulyne, Lilianah, Marabella, Maryori, Mija, Nasly, Norielle, Savonna, Simmone, Adabella, Adaleya, Adamarie, Adeana, Adreanne, Adreena, Adrieana, Adriona, Adriyana, Alegandra, Alejandria, Alencia, Alexandera, Alezandra, Alianis, Alichia, Aliviana, Alixandrea, Alondria, Amaranta, Amarea, Amarise, Ambriella, Amelianna, Amilliana, Amoreena, Anadelia, Anagabriela, Anaissa, Analisse, Analycia, Analysse, Anarely, Anastaisa, Anatasia, Angeligue, Anisia, Anitta, Anjelika, Annahi, Annalaya, Annalyce, Annalysse, Anyela, Anyelin, Anyelina, Arelly, Ariatna, Aricela, Arielly, Arielys, Arienna, Arisbel, Arrabella, Athene, Austina, Avangelina, Avilene, Aynara, Belina, Benedicta, Benicia, Calandria, Caralina, Cataleah, Catalena, Cateleya, Cathaleya, Christasia, Christyanna, Cicilia, Cressida, Daianna, Damyla, Danahi, Danniela, Dariane, Dariella, Darriana, Dayannara, Desarie, Destina, Doriana, Dorianna, Driana, Elianni, Elinora, Elisabel, Elisabella, Elizabella, Emanuella, Emmelina, Eustacia, Evalette, Evangelyne, Evanora, Evarose, Ezmerelda, Filippa, Fransheska, Genavie, Gizzelle, Guiselle, Idalie, Iliani, Iliany, Illyria, Irelia, Iridiana, Ismelda, Isobelle, Jamilett, Jaquelinne, Jariana, Jasminne, Jewelianna, Jezabelle, Jiovanna, Julianah, Julitza, Jullianna, Julliette, Kabella, Karolyna, Katalena, Kataryna, Kattaleia, Koraima, Kordelia, Kristiane, Krystianna, Laetitia, Larrisa, Lauriana, Lianette, Liliahna, Lilliauna, Lilliona, Lillionna, Lillyth, Lilyahna, Lilyona, Liticia, Loreley, Lorenna, Lucendia, Lucillia, Luzma, Lylith, Marguerette, Mariaalice, Mariabelen, Marializ, Mariany, Mariavictoria, Mariena, Meilany, Mercadies, Miabelle, Michaline, Mirajane, Montzerrat, Monzerrath, Natacia, Nataline, Natalyia, Nathali, Nefeli, Odessia, Penelopi, Princessa, Quintara, Renesmay, Rosaleah, Rosangelica, Roselena, Roselynne, Santasia, Santoria, Sarabella, Saryna, Satoria, Satrina, Secilia, Selyna, Sephira, Serana, Sevana, Skarleth, Suprina, Tariana, Tatayana, Tattiana, Taviana, Timothea, Titiana, Totiana, Valerya, Vannia, Velencia, Venissa, Verania, Vyctoria, Yahritza, Yameli, Yanin, Yaqueline, Yarelie, Yariana, Yarianna, Yariela, Yarielys, Yizel, Yoceline, Ysabela, Yurani

Brothers: Leonardo, Julian, Adrian, Mateo, Lucas, Alexander, Christian, Gabriel, Alejandro, Armando, Cristian, Dorian, Josue, Matias, Maximiliano, Nicolas, Nikolas, Rafael, Raphael, Tomas, Victor, Xavier, Agustin, Aleczander, Alexandro, Aloysius, Amadeus, Augustine, Aurelio, Camilo, Caspian, Cristobal, Dariel, Demetri, Demetrious, Demetrius, Dominik, Dorien, Ezequiel, Fabian, Ferdinand, Giovanny, Jairo, Joaquin, Karlos, Leandro, Leonel, Lucian, Marcos, Matthias, Mauricio, Maximilian, Maximillian, Maximo, Octavio, Orlando, Tristan, Ulises, Valentin, Valentine, Adrain, Alexavier, Alexsander, Antoni, Arsenio, Augustin, Augusto, Baltazar, Bartholomew, Benedict, Benicio, Christofer, Cipriano, Cristhian, Cristofer, Dashiell, Demetrio, Demetris, Domonic, Esequiel, Exavier, Favian, Geovanni, Geovanny, Geovany, Ignatius, Jacobo, Jeremias, Jeronimo, Jovanny, Matheo, Natanael, Niklaus, Nikolaus, Patricio, Richardo, Serafin, Timoteo, Victoriano, Vincente, Agustine, Agustus, Albaro, Alegandro, Alekzander, Angelus, Antonyo, Aristeo, Calixto, Christien, Christoffer, Christophor, Cruzito, Demetruis, Diago, Dimitrius, Dionisio, Domanic, Elisandro, Enmanuel, Esteven, Frederik, Gillermo, Javiel, Jeancarlo, Jeovani, Jeovany, Jhoan, Jhonatan, Joachim, Joshue, Kristofor, Lizandro, Luciel, Lysander, Maxamillion, Maximilliano, Maximillion, Nicanor, Nicolaus, Orian, Philipp, Recardo, Romulo, Santhiago, Thadeus, Theordore, Valerian, Yoshua, Yulian, Zacarias, Alexio, Alezander, Alixander, Alyxander, Amilio, Andrian, Antonious, Balthazar, Barnaby, Constantin, Dartanian, Demetreus, Domenik, Eliceo, Elizandro, Emilian, Erubiel, Estaban, Estefan, Estiven, Eulises, Grabiel, Graciano, Gustabo, Horatio, Jhovanny, Kassian, Leovardo, Maciel, Mattheus, Maurico, Maxemiliano, Maxmillian, Miqueas, Octavion, Oliverio, Rodriques, Romon, Sabien, Savier, Timothee, Yancarlos, Boniface, Daemian, Demetrias, Dominyk, Isahi, Jhair, Lathaniel, Lazarius, Maxamillian, Adorian, Albeiro, Alekxander, Amiliano, Amyas, Antario, Anyelo, Avier, Cristofher, Daemien, Dameian, Dionis, Dominie, Duvan, Edinson, Eduar, Elisio, Elizeo, Elonzo, Emilliano, Erasmus, Estefano, Estephan, Estiben, Fernado, Givanni, Jahvier, Javy, Jesua, Joanthony, Josuel, Laureano, Leonell, Lexander, Lucciano, Maikol, Malaquias, Marcelus, Mataeo, Maxmilian, Miliano, Nicoles, Nikholas, Nikolaj, Olivander, Ossiel, Peregrin, Ramces, Santy, Sanuel, Silviano, Thadeo, Theodoro, Wyndham, Yeremi

Names like Sebastian

Names whose popularity has moved with Sebastian's over the last 50 years.

A parent animal hugging its little one, the personalized name page

S is for Sebastian, our favorite little boy.

S is for Sebastian…”

In a Mallowby alphabet book, Sebastian's letter becomes Sebastian's page: hand-illustrated, printed hardcover or paperback, made just for them.

Make Sebastian's book

Books for siblings or grandkids? The second book is 15% off.

Questions parents ask

What does Sebastian mean?
It comes from Latin Sebastianus, "man from Sebastia." The city's name derives from Greek sebastos, "venerable", the Greek equivalent of the Roman title Augustus.
How popular is Sebastian?
Sebastian ranked 16th for American boys in 2025, given to about 1 in every 198 boys. It has been rising since 1985 and peaked in 2018.
What are good nicknames for Sebastian?
Seb is the standard short form; Bash and Baz offer livelier alternatives, and some families use Ian from the final syllable.
Is Sebastian a Spanish name?
It is pan-European, Latin in origin, long popular in Spain, France, Germany, and England alike. In the United States its current strength is greatest in heavily Hispanic states, where Sebastián is a favorite.
What names go well with Sebastian?
Other polysyllabic romantic classics match its sweep: Leonardo, Julian, or Adrian for a brother; Valentina, Isabella, or Penelope for a sister.