Fabian is the English form of the late Roman name Fabianus. This was originally a family name Fabius that derived from the Latin word faba for the broad bean, an important food crop in the Roman Empire. It entered the English language with the Normans, but has never achieved the popularity of Fabien in France and Fabiano in Italy.

The term "Fabian", when used by itself, can refer to:

• Pope Fabian, pope from 236 - 250.
• Fabian (entertainer) - an American teen idol of the 1950s.
• Fabian Society - a socialist society in the United Kingdom; a "Fabian" is a member of that society or someone who holds similar opinons.
• In military theory, the Fabian Strategy.
• A novel by Erich Kästner.
• Fabian Cortez, a Marvel comics character.