Stefan Boy
Name Meaning & Origin Pronunciation: STEH-fan /ˈstɛfən/
Origin: Greek; Latin
Meaning: Greek: crown; Latin: to be crowned
Historical & Cultural Background
The name Stefan has its roots in the Greek name Στέφανος (Stephanos), which translates to 'crown' or 'garland.' This etymology reflects the ancient practice of crowning victors in athletic competitions and symbolizes honor and achievement. The name was adopted into Latin as Stephanus and subsequently made its way into various languages, including Old French as Estienne, before arriving in English as Stephen and its variant Stefan.
The transition into English occurred during the Norman Conquest in the 11th century, when many Latin and Greek names were integrated into the English lexicon through the influence of Norman culture. Historically, the name Stefan has been borne by several notable figures, including Saint Stephen, who is recognized as the first Christian martyr.
His story is recounted in the New Testament, specifically in the Book of Acts, where he is stoned to death for his faith around the year 34 CE. This association with martyrdom and early Christianity has contributed to the name's significance in Christian traditions.
Additionally, various kings and rulers throughout history have carried the name, such as Stefan Dušan, the Serbian emperor in the 14th century, who played a crucial role in the establishment of the Serbian Empire. Culturally, the name Stefan has resonated across various European cultures, often symbolizing leadership and valor.
In many Slavic countries, Stefan is a common name, often associated with saints and historical figures, reinforcing its enduring legacy. The diminutive form, Stefa, is also used in some cultures, highlighting the name's adaptability and continued relevance throughout the centuries.
Overall, the name Stefan embodies a rich tapestry of historical, cultural, and linguistic significance, reflecting its journey through time and across regions.
Famous people named Stefan
In this section, you will find notable people named Stefan. We include individuals across a wide range of fields, including actors known for their work in film, television, and stage productions. You'll also find musicians, directors, and other public figures named Stefan who have made a significant impact on popular culture.
We also feature individuals named Stefan who have made meaningful contributions to science, politics, athletics, literature, and other areas of public interest.
Please note that not every baby name in our database currently has a famous namesake listed. If you would like to suggest a name we may have missed or submit a correction, feel free to contact us. We review and finalize additions and corrections within 24 hours.
Stefan Kießling is a former professional footballer best known for his time at Bayer Leverkusen and being a top scorer in the Bundesliga.
Stefan Sagmeister is a graphic designer and typographer best known for his work on album covers and the design firm Sagmeister & Walsh.
Stefan Molyneux is a podcaster and author best known for his discussions on philosophy and libertarianism.
Stefan Edberg is a former professional tennis player best known for winning six Grand Slam singles titles and being a world No. 1 player.
Stefan Raab is a television host and producer best known for his work on the show TV total and the Eurovision Song Contest in Germany.
Stefan James is an entrepreneur and author best known for his work in online business and personal finance education.
Fictional characters named Stefan
The following list of fictional characters named Stefan is a work in progress. If you would like to suggest an additional character, please send us the character's name along with a brief, one-sentence description of what they are best known for.
You may also submit corrections, which we will review and update as quickly as possible.
Stefan Salvatore is a fictional character from the TV series The Vampire Diaries. He is a vampire who struggles with his nature and seeks redemption while navigating complex relationships with his brother and love interests.
Stefan is a fictional character from the animated series DuckTales. He is a young duck who is part of the main cast and often accompanies Scrooge McDuck on adventures.
Sibling suggestions
If you're looking for sibling name ideas that pair well with Stefan, the following options are frequently chosen as complementary choices by parents.
Similar names
Based on our extensive baby names database, several names share stylistic or phonetic similarities with Stefan. These names can serve as alternatives to the sibling suggestions listed above and may help you find the perfect complementary name for your growing family.
U.S. Historical Usage
The name Stefan was first seen in the United States in 1910.
Stefan has ranked as high as #627 nationally, which occurred in 1991, and has been most popular in California, New York, Florida, Illinois, and Pennsylvania.
In the past 5 years the name Stefan has been trending down compared to the previous 5 years.
Popularity Over Time (National)
The name Stefan is part of our comprehensive baby names database, which includes Social Security Administration (SSA) data dating back to 1880—the first official year of state and national tracking. The chart below shows when Stefan was first recorded in the United States and illustrates how its popularity has risen and fallen over time.
Top States for Stefan (2024)
We track the most popular states for each baby name every year and highlight the locations where the name appears most frequently. In some cases, you may see four or five states listed. However, we only display states where the name represents a significant percentage of births, so the number of states shown can range from one to several.
| State | Births | Share |
|---|---|---|
| CA | 32 | |
| IL | 21 | |
| TX | 18 | |
| FL | 17 | |
| NY | 13 | |
| PA | 11 | |
| WA | 11 | |
| OH | 10 | |
| GA | 8 | |
| MI | 7 | |
| IN | 6 | |
| NC | 6 | |
| MA | 5 |
Popularity Over Time (National) — Table
We track the national popularity of each baby name annually. The table below displays each year along with the number of births reported by the Social Security Administration. This data combines all state-level reporting from the SSA's baby names database to provide a comprehensive view of overall birth counts for Stefan.
| Year | Births |
|---|---|
| 2024 | 225 |
| 2023 | 234 |
| 2022 | 239 |
| 2021 | 257 |
| 2020 | 257 |
| 2019 | 258 |
| 2018 | 249 |
| 2017 | 313 |
| 2016 | 264 |
| 2015 | 293 |
| 2014 | 260 |
| 2013 | 256 |
| 2012 | 217 |
| 2011 | 238 |
| 2010 | 240 |
| 2009 | 202 |
| 2008 | 193 |
| 2007 | 212 |
| 2006 | 223 |
| 2005 | 241 |
| 2004 | 227 |
| 2003 | 274 |
| 2002 | 283 |
| 2001 | 304 |
| 2000 | 360 |
| 1999 | 362 |
| 1998 | 390 |
| 1997 | 503 |
| 1996 | 454 |
| 1995 | 530 |
| 1994 | 588 |
| 1993 | 601 |
| 1992 | 614 |
| 1991 | 719 |
| 1990 | 638 |
| 1989 | 668 |
| 1988 | 607 |
| 1987 | 514 |
| 1986 | 491 |
| 1985 | 423 |
| 1984 | 339 |
| 1983 | 256 |
| 1982 | 255 |
| 1981 | 228 |
| 1980 | 235 |
| 1979 | 204 |
| 1978 | 219 |
| 1977 | 227 |
| 1976 | 208 |
| 1975 | 220 |
| 1974 | 220 |
| 1973 | 252 |
| 1972 | 257 |
| 1971 | 257 |
| 1970 | 323 |
| 1969 | 217 |
| 1968 | 165 |
| 1967 | 177 |
| 1966 | 141 |
| 1965 | 155 |
| 1964 | 137 |
| 1963 | 183 |
| 1962 | 178 |
| 1961 | 154 |
| 1960 | 134 |
| 1959 | 94 |
| 1958 | 57 |
| 1957 | 63 |
| 1956 | 87 |
| 1955 | 57 |
| 1954 | 62 |
| 1953 | 59 |
| 1952 | 60 |
| 1951 | 60 |
| 1950 | 53 |
| 1949 | 53 |
| 1948 | 40 |
| 1947 | 41 |
| 1946 | 23 |
| 1945 | 21 |
| 1944 | 28 |
| 1943 | 18 |
| 1942 | 22 |
| 1941 | 9 |
| 1940 | 7 |
| 1939 | 16 |
| 1938 | 15 |
| 1937 | 6 |
| 1936 | 12 |
| 1935 | 9 |
| 1934 | 6 |
| 1933 | 7 |
| 1931 | 7 |
| 1929 | 8 |
| 1928 | 6 |
| 1927 | 8 |
| 1926 | 14 |
| 1925 | 8 |
| 1924 | 12 |
| 1923 | 9 |
| 1922 | 8 |
| 1921 | 10 |
| 1920 | 20 |
| 1919 | 12 |
| 1918 | 22 |
| 1917 | 20 |
| 1916 | 13 |
| 1915 | 12 |
| 1914 | 8 |
| 1913 | 9 |
| 1912 | 7 |
| 1911 | 5 |
| 1910 | 7 |