A diminutive or variant of Stevie, from Stephen, ultimately from Greek meaning crown or garland.
Stevi is a feminine spelling of Stevie, the affectionate diminutive of Stephen or Steven, which traces its origins to the Greek Stephanos — a crown or garland, specifically the wreath awarded to victors in athletic contests, civic honor, or martyrdom. Stephen was one of the earliest Christian martyrs, stoned to death according to the Acts of the Apostles, and the name spread through Christendom with the power of that story, becoming Stephen in England, Étienne in France, Stefano in Italy, Esteban in Spain, István in Hungary. The diminutive Stevie began as a childhood nickname before acquiring its own independent standing.
The name's most significant modern bearer is Stevie Nicks, the singer and songwriter who came to fame with Fleetwood Mac in the 1970s and sustained a legendary solo career across five decades. Nicks, born Stephanie, embraced the nickname as her professional identity and in doing so transformed it: Stevie became the name of a woman who was simultaneously otherworldly and grounded, mystical and rock-and-roll, deeply feminine and entirely her own authority. Her influence on the name's perception is difficult to overstate — for many parents the name Stevie conjures her specifically, and the Stevi spelling offers a way to gesture toward that association while creating a visually distinct form.
The -i ending has been a consistent tool in contemporary feminine naming, softening names that might otherwise read as purely masculine nicknames and giving them an independent, slightly whimsical identity. Stevi fits comfortably in the company of Andi, Brandi, and Tori — names that have graduated from nickname status to full given-name standing while keeping their informal warmth intact.