Stephenie is a feminine given name of American origin. It is a variant spelling of Stephanie, which means "crown" in Greek. The name has been popular among Americans since the 20th century, with its peak popularity occurring in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
The name Stephenie first gained significant attention when it was used by author Stephenie Meyer for her main character in the Twilight series of vampire-themed fantasy romance novels. The books were published between 2005 and 2008, with the final novel being released in two parts. The Twilight series has since become a cultural phenomenon, selling over 100 million copies worldwide and inspiring several film adaptations starring Kristen Stewart as Bella Swan.
Prior to Meyer's use of the name Stephenie for her character, it had been relatively uncommon compared to Stephanie or other similar variants such as Stephanie or Stefanie. However, after the success of the Twilight series, many parents began naming their daughters Stephenie in honor of Bella Swan. This contributed to a temporary increase in the popularity of the name during the late 2000s and early 2010s.
In recent years, however, usage of the name Stephenie has declined again as its association with Twilight has faded somewhat from popular consciousness. Despite this, it remains an unique and distinctive female given name that is sure to evoke memories of Bella Swan for many people who grew up reading or watching Twilight.
The name Stephanie has had a varied history of popularity in the United States over the past century. In the early 20th century, it was given to around 5 girls each year between 1912 and 1923. However, it started to gain traction in the late 1940s and early 1950s, with a significant increase in popularity during this period.
Between 1948 and 1956, the number of girls named Stephanie at birth ranged from 24 to 43 each year. This trend continued throughout the 1960s and 1970s, with over 90 births per year in many years during these decades.
The name reached its peak popularity in the United States between 1968 and 1974, with a total of 199 births in 1974 alone. This period marked Stephanie as one of the most popular girls' names in America at that time.
However, popularity began to decline after the mid-1970s, reaching its lowest point in recent years in 2021 and 2023 with only 5 births each year. Despite this decrease, Stephanie remains a classic name with historical significance in the United States.