Steed is an English surname that has evolved into being used as a given name in some instances. Derived from the Middle English word 'stede', which means horse, Steed is believed to have originated from medieval occupational names for a stable keeper or groom. Over time, it has also been associated with the British actor Patrick Macnee, who famously played the secret agent John Steed in the 1960s television series "The Avengers". As a given name, Steed offers a unique and distinctive option, conveying a sense of strength and steadfastness, much like its equine derivation.
The name Steed saw a significant spike in popularity between 1969 and 1971, with the highest number of births occurring in 1969 (17 births). However, it appears that this increase was not sustained, as there were only 8 births in 1970 and 10 births in 1971. After a gap of several years, there were again some births recorded with the name Steed in 1979 (7 births) and 1984 (6 births), but these numbers remained relatively low compared to the peak in the early 1970s. In total, there were 62 babies named Steed between 1967 and 1984.