Name of the Week

Saintly, Shakespearean, sporty and sophisticated -- there's more to Sebastian
than you might think.

Origin:

From the Roman name Sebastianus meaning "of Sebastia". Ultimately it derives from the Greek σεβαστός (sebastos) meaning 'venerable', which was used as the Greek translation of Augustus. Many cities in Antiquity were named Sebaste or Sebastia in honour of the Emperor Augustus, and later for subsequent emperors.

Usage:

St Sebastian, the 3rd-century Roman legionary shot by arrows, was a frequent subject of medieval art. It was particularly popular in Spain and France.  On British shores the name can be found in more frequent use in Cornwall as early as the 16th century, where it became Bastian. The name was not particularly common during the 18th century but its use was consistent. It picked up a little in popularity in the 1950s. In 2010 the name ranked #58 in England and Wales -- which has been steadily climbing since it reached the top 100 in 2002 -- and #119 in Scotland, also on the rise.

Famous Bearers:

* St Sebastian (d. c.288) was a Roman soldier who was martyred by arrows after it was discovered he was a Christian. He is considered the patron saint of athletes and also a patron saint of soldiers. * Three blesseds also bear the name Sebastian. * Two Shakespearean characters were called Sebastian: one in Twelfth Night, twin brother of Viola; and in The Tempest as brother of King Alonso. * King Sebastian (Sebastião) was a 16th century king of Portugal who went on crusade. * Lord Sebastian "Seb" Coe, KBE is a four-time Olympic medal winner, and considered one of Britains greatest athletes. he is currently organiser of the London 2012 Olympic games. * Sebastian Vettel is a German Formula One racing driver and current World Champion.

Variants:

Sébastien, Bastien (French) Sebastián (Spanish) Sebastiaan (Dutch)  Sebastiano (Italian)  Sebastião (Portuguese) Sevastian (Russian)

Pronunciation:

seb-AST-ee-ən, seb-AST-yən (UK) [key]

Possible nicknames:

Asa, Bastian, Bas, Ben, Ian, Seb ,Stan, Sten, Tio

Sibling Names:

Clementine     Rosalind      Miranda     Lillian     Philippa     Lydia  Theodore      Nicholas     Gabriel     Dominic     Maximilian     Benedict

Name Lists:

Upright Elegance   Saintly & Stylish   Resonant Roman   Royal   Shakespeare

 

If you like Sebastian you may also like:   Adrian, Quentin, Fabian, Crispin, Alban, Augustus, Felix, Orlando, Julian, Constantine

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