# What is the difference between Steven and Stephen? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 25, 2012, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-steven-and-stephen/629334 "2012-07-25T14:01:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2012, 11:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-steven-and-stephen/629334/21 "2012-07-26T11:35:54Z")
> [@Nametag](#): > > Actually, it isn’t. Tolkien had solid linguistic reasons for choosing _elves_ and _elven_ over other possibilities, but he deliberately replaced _elfs_ and _elfin_ because he thought them evocative of the wee folk, not his classically tragic immortals. Actually, it is. Tolkien doesn’t determine how the plural of the commonly-used word [ui]elf\* is done outside of his books. Check the dictionary. ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Panic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/don_t_panic/32/398_2.png) [@Don\_t\_Panic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Panic)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2012, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-steven-and-stephen/629334/22 "2012-07-26T11:47:33Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > My mother’s rationale for naming my brother Stephen was that she didn’t want him to be called Steve. I think the odds would have been better if she’d named him Joe. ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2012, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-steven-and-stephen/629334/23 "2012-07-26T11:48:40Z")
> [@Nars\_Glinley](#): > > My mother’s rationale for naming my brother Stephen was that she didn’t want him to be called Steve. Well, that doesn’t work. In Real Life, my first name is Stephen. Friends call me Steve, coworkers call me Stephen. (Because there were already two “Steves” in the department, one of whom also shares my last initial.) People who don’t know me pronounce the PH as an F. My parents liked the “old-world” spelling variant, and if they were less conservative would have gone all the way to “Stephan.” I returned the favour by naming our first daughter “Stephanie.” (This also ties in with my Wife’s family tradition of having Juniors. I honestly believe there is no more than six first names among all my in-laws.) ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2012, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-steven-and-stephen/629334/24 "2012-07-26T12:00:17Z")
My dad is named Stephen. My newphew is named after him. If it had been my choice, I still would have named the boy after Dad, but I would have spelled it Steven. Stephen just look…odd. Plus, there’s a pretty sizeable number of people who don’t know how to pronounce Stephen, and end up saying it as “Stefan.” ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2012, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-steven-and-stephen/629334/25 "2012-07-26T12:00:28Z")
Originally, the name was pronounced /ˈkoʊlbərt/ in English; /koʊlˈbɛər/ came about much later. ---
**Author:** ![BetsQ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/fbc32d/32.png) [@BetsQ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BetsQ)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2012, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-steven-and-stephen/629334/26 "2012-07-26T13:30:25Z")
> [@GovernmentMan](#): > > I don’t pronounce them the same > > Stephen to me is pronounced ‘steph-’ (like stephanie) and ‘-en’ > > That’s how people pronounce Stephen Curry’s name. The [wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen)article on Stephen/Steven only lists one pronunciation. (Also, I’m pretty sure my father would look at you funny if you said his name with an F sound.) An interesting thing about that wikipedia article is that they claim that in Middle English the name was pronounced “step-hen”. No cite is given. Does that make sense? I’m not sure I believe that. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2012, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-steven-and-stephen/629334/27 "2012-07-26T14:26:22Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > I used to wonder about Daedelus. Him? He was last seen going to a funeral – some bloke named Finnegan. ---
**Author:** ![even\_sven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dfb087/32.png) [@even\_sven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/even_sven)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2012, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-steven-and-stephen/629334/28 "2012-07-26T14:28:38Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I’m not sure what you mean. I actually used to pronounce it “Stee-fen” as a kid until someone pointed out that it’s supposed to be said the same as “Steven.” I mean, “leafing” and “leaving” are not hard to distinguish and say, are they? Maybe you have better enunciation than I. When I saw it out loud, it inevitably drifts towards “Steven,” unless I am really concentrating on avoiding the “V” sound. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2012, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-steven-and-stephen/629334/29 "2012-07-26T14:56:47Z")
> [@dolphinboy](#): > > My first name is Steven, and when I was growing up I was told that Stephan was the ‘old fashioned’ spelling while Steven was the modern spelling. Me too! **fistbump** I remember back in the glorious 1970’s when being called upon for the first time in grade school being asked if my name was spelled with a “v” or a “ph”. Nobody asks that anymore… ☹ I liked the mystery! ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2012, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-steven-and-stephen/629334/30 "2012-07-26T16:49:04Z")
> [@BetsQ](#): > > An interesting thing about that wikipedia article is that they claim that in Middle English the name was pronounced “step-hen”. No cite is given. Does that make sense? I’m not sure I believe that. I don’t think you should believe that. There are plenty of recordings online of experts reading the Prologue to Chaucer’s _Canterbury Tales_, where there is a -ph- in line 5 (Zephirus). I listened to one, which confirmed my opinion that it’s already -f-. At the very least, this means there’s scholarly disagreement, but I think you’re right and Wikipedia is wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Blakeyrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@Blakeyrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blakeyrat)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2012, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-steven-and-stephen/629334/31 "2012-07-26T22:04:13Z")
> [@Diceman](#): > > My dad is named Stephen. My newphew is named after him. If it had been my choice, I still would have named the boy after Dad, but I would have spelled it Steven. Stephen just look…odd. Plus, there’s a pretty sizeable number of people who don’t know how to pronounce Stephen, and end up saying it as “Stefan.” When Steve Urkel in Family Matters was his “cool” alter-ego, he called himself “Stefan”. Proof positive that “Stefan” is a cooler name than “Steven.” ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2012, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-steven-and-stephen/629334/32 "2012-07-26T22:23:26Z")
Wasn’t intervocalic /f/ in Old English pronounced [v]? Like it still is in Welsh? (Not precisely, because in Welsh \ always stands for /v/ and \ stands for /f/, while in Old English \ sounded like [f] except when it came between two vowels when it sounded like [v], IIRC.) ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2012, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-steven-and-stephen/629334/33 "2012-07-26T22:28:35Z")
Random fact: the classical French equivalent of Stephen is _Étienne_, but in Quebec for some reason \*Stéphane \*is much more common. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2012, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-steven-and-stephen/629334/34 "2012-07-26T22:47:06Z")
> [@Johanna](#): > > Wasn’t intervocalic /f/ in Old English pronounced [v]? Like it still is in Welsh? (Not precisely, because in Welsh \ always stands for /v/ and \ stands for /f/, while in Old English \ sounded like [f] except when it came between two vowels when it sounded like [v], IIRC.) Yes, Old English /v/ was an allophone of /f/ when between voiced elements, notably vowels. Welsh f is always /v/ in the modern language but the evolution of Welsh orthography is separate from what happened in English and so not really a useful comparison. In Old Welsh, both B and M can be /v/ in medial or final position, and in Middle Welsh U is just as likely to be /v/ as F is. ---
**Author:** ![snooker12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@snooker12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snooker12)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2014, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-steven-and-stephen/629334/35 "2014-06-01T00:23:17Z")
> [@Diceman](#): > > My dad is named Stephen. My newphew is named after him. If it had been my choice, I still would have named the boy after Dad, but I would have spelled it Steven. Stephen just look…odd. Plus, there’s a pretty sizeable number of people who don’t know how to pronounce Stephen, and end up saying it as “Stefan.” my real life name is stephen and no on in my entire life has pronounced it wrong. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2014, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-steven-and-stephen/629334/36 "2014-06-01T00:56:32Z")
> [@snooker12](#): > > my real life name is stephen and no on in my entire life has pronounced it wrong. Welcome to the SDMB, stef-AHN. It can be a life changing experience! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2014, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-steven-and-stephen/629334/37 "2014-06-01T03:05:08Z")
> [@FoieGrasIsEvil](#): > > … > > I remember back in the glorious 1970’s when being called upon for the first time in grade school being asked if my name was spelled with a “v” or a “ph”. Nobody asks that anymore… What is 9W the answer to? ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2014, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-steven-and-stephen/629334/38 "2014-06-01T03:24:02Z")
Und zo, Herr Wagner, do you schpell your name vit a V? ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2014, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-steven-and-stephen/629334/39 "2014-06-01T03:34:44Z")
> [@snooker12](#): > > my real life name is stephen and no on in my entire life has pronounced it wrong. I know my first name is Steven. ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2014, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-steven-and-stephen/629334/40 "2014-06-01T03:40:55Z")
Until I was an adult, I lived happily with the plural of roof being [**rooves**](http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_plural_form_of_roof_-_roofs_or_rooves). In Canada. It was rooves in my family and rooves in my neighborhood. However, when I wrote rooves for a paper at work, I was pointed at, laughed at and poked with a stick. So I shouted, “Fucketh thou off, varlets!” Roofs be barbaric. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-steven-and-stephen/629334.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-steven-and-stephen/629334.md?page=3)