# 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:** 13\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2014, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-steven-and-stephen/629334/41 "2014-06-01T03:49:37Z")
> [@even\_sven](#): > > Try saying “stee-fen”. It’s almost impossible not to say “Steven.” I can pronounce the F in that with no problem. I always wondered if Stephen was at least originally meant to be pronounced Steff-en. It is among some Brits I’ve known who have that spelling. (Sorry if this was covered earlier. I don’t see it.) ---
**Author:** ![deacon\_troll](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/94ad74/32.png) [@deacon\_troll](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deacon_troll)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2014, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-steven-and-stephen/629334/42 "2014-06-01T05:16:20Z")
> [@CheeseDonkey](#): > > That is, why are there two spellings of that name? And how many words have a “ph” that makes a “v” sound? One of them is a cool guy, and the other is a total dipshit. …It’s up to you to figure out which one is which. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2014, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-steven-and-stephen/629334/43 "2014-06-01T13:12:01Z")
> [@even\_sven](#): > > 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. Your name is really Ephen Sphen, isn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2014, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-steven-and-stephen/629334/44 "2014-06-01T16:21:53Z")
Of course Stephen is pronounced with an “f” sound. Like Just Stephen King. And Stephen Colbert. And Stephen Hawking. And Steven Sondheim. And Stephen Fry. And Stephen Stills. And Stephen Douglas. And Stephen Bishop. And Stephen Crane. Though Stefon did change his name when he married Seth Meyers. ---
**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, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-steven-and-stephen/629334/45 "2014-06-01T22:30:52Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > Though Stefon did change his name when he married Seth Meyers. Ooooh… Yes-Yes-Yes-Yes. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2014, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-steven-and-stephen/629334/46 "2014-06-03T21:08:07Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Did people call him Steph? 😃 No, Steph (pronounced Stef) is a common shortened name used for females named Stephanie. ---
**Author:** ![Oswald\_Bastable](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oswald_bastable/32/214_2.png) [@Oswald\_Bastable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oswald_Bastable)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 9:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-steven-and-stephen/629334/47 "2014-06-04T09:33:24Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > No, Steph (pronounced Stef) is a common shortened name used for females named Stephanie. I’ve also known a couple of Stephanies (in the UK) who have used the diminutive Stevie. OB ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2014, 10:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-steven-and-stephen/629334/48 "2014-06-04T10:23:25Z")
> [@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. > > My best friend and his wife had a child a few years ago and named him ‘Stephan’. They keep calling him my namesake even though the spelling is different. When I asked them why they chose that particular spelling they said because it was more ‘traditional’. > > So modern versus traditional spelling, I think that’s the difference here. Not only is the spelling different, but I would pronounce “Stephan” the same way as Stefan (stef-FAHN). I pronounce Steven and Stephen alike (STEE-ven). ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2014, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-steven-and-stephen/629334/49 "2014-06-05T02:48:54Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > No, Steph (pronounced Stef) is a common shortened name used for females named Stephanie. It can be used for males too. I’ve known a couple. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2014, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-steven-and-stephen/629334/50 "2014-06-05T04:15:21Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > It can be used for males too. I’ve known a couple. I have a friend whose name is spelled Stephen, pronounced STEFF-en, and he is called Steph for short. ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [June 5, 2014, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-steven-and-stephen/629334/51 "2014-06-05T04:23:40Z")
> [@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. > > My best friend and his wife had a child a few years ago and named him ‘Stephan’. They keep calling him my namesake even though the spelling is different. When I asked them why they chose that particular spelling they said because it was more ‘traditional’. > > So modern versus traditional spelling, I think that’s the difference here. Is that a typo? Stephan (with an ‘A’) I would parse as the french/spanish/whatever version and pronounce it “Steffan”. English Stephen is usually spelled with two Es. ---
**Author:** ![sjc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e5b9ba/32.png) [@sjc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sjc)\ **Post date:** [June 6, 2014, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-steven-and-stephen/629334/52 "2014-06-06T19:13:48Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Your name is really Ephen Sphen, isn’t it? Just to be clear, that’s a different phonetic environment than the ‘ph’ in ‘Stephen’. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [June 11, 2014, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-steven-and-stephen/629334/53 "2014-06-11T18:32:57Z")
NE Ohioan here. I pronounce “Stephen” and “Steven” the same, but for some reason the spelling of the first just strikes me as a little more classy. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-difference-between-steven-and-stephen/629334.md?page=2)