Étienne

Étienne is a French given name, the equivalent of Stephen or Steven. It derives from the Greek Stephanos, meaning crown or garland, and entered Old French through Latin Stephanus. The name has long been common in France and other Francophone regions, and it is historically associated with Saint Stephen, the first Christian martyr, whose feast day in Western Christianity is celebrated on December 26.

Notable bearers of the name include Étienne Bézout, an 18th‑century mathematician known for Bézout's theorem; Étienne de La Boétie, a 16th‑century philosopher and writer; Étienne-Louis Boullée, an 18th‑century architect; Étienne Gilson, a 20th‑century philosopher; and Étienne-Jules Marey, a 19th‑century physiologist and pioneer of chronophotography. The name has remained common in French‑speaking contexts and appears in literature, science, and public life.

Saint‑Étienne, or Saint Stephen, has given its name to places such as the city of Saint-Étienne in central France. In broader use, Étienne has analogues in other languages, notably Stephen/Steven in English and Stefano in Italian, with Stéphane as another French masculine form distinct from Étienne. Today the name remains a familiar choice in French‑speaking countries.