Stefan

Stefan - A very unique male name

Stefan appeared on the charts for the first time in 1935 on position #1690. In this article you'll learn the history of this name, statistics, see famous people named Stefan and more.
Are you having a baby or looking to learn more about the name Stefan? Our experts and editorial staff have gathered trends and insights for 30,000+ baby names over the last 100 years -- And on this page you will learn everything you ever wanted to know about the name Stefan. The baby boy name Stefan was given to 179 baby boys in 2025, ranking #1004 on the national boy baby name top chart.


With that position 1 in 8,192 baby boys were given this name - making this a very unique male name according to our Popularity Score algorithm. Stefan peaked in popularity 35 years ago in 1991 on position 337.

Famous with this name

How would you rate Stefan, 1-5?

Stefan is currently topping the charts in...

Did you know that popularity can vary a lot between states? Stefan is currently topping the baby name charts in Massachusetts at position #614 - and is the least popular in Pennsylvania at position #1,410.

Why care about state specific baby name charts? It could be that a name that is very popular on the national overall charts is less (or even more) popular where you live. So make sure you check out the state specific charts below and find out how popular or unique Stefan is where you live.

---

Comment and discuss

---

Stefan origin and meaning

Greek — form of Stephen used across Europe

Form of Stephen, from Greek Stephanos, 'crown, wreath'

Stefan is the spelling of Stephen used in German, Scandinavian, Slavic and other European languages. It peaked in American use in 1991, helped by tennis champion Stefan Edberg's era.

Attested etymology

Stefan is a 6 letter name with 2 syllables.

To see famous people named Stefan, pop culture references for the name Stefan and nicknames & variations - visit Nameberry or Wikipedia.

Similar to Stefan

We've found the following names that sound similar to Stefan, sorted by popularity.

Steven / Stephen / Stephan / Stephon / Stefano / Stevan / Stephanie / Stefon / Stevens / Steffan /

---

Name statistics

Most parents-to-be know if they want a popular or unique name, and with these charts and data tables you can easily get a better understanding of how popular or unique this name is.

With a quick glance you can easily tell if this name is increasing or declining in popularity - But note that its current popularity can actually differ a lot from state to state.

Chart position per year (visualized)

Chart position per state (visualized)

Chart position per year (table view)

Chart position per state (table view)

Even more about Stefan

These are some of the common questions you may want to have answered to know if this is the perfect name for your baby.

Is Stefan a common or unique name?

By analyzing the number of births and frequency of this name we've determined that it's currently a very unique male name.

What is the number of syllables for the name Stefan?

2 syllables. Why is this important? One of the things that makes a baby name sound good and have a nice rythm is the number of syllables - and especially the number of syllables along with the syllable count for your last name. A simple rule is to avoid having the same number of syllables in your first, middle and last name.

---

Pronunciation

STEH-fahn · /ˈstɛfɑn/
European use stresses the second syllable (steh-FAHN); American use varies.

Around the world

• Stefan (German) — The standard German spelling.
• Stefan (Swedish) — The standard Swedish spelling.
• Stefan (Polish) — The standard Polish spelling.

Spellings and nicknames

• Stephen — The standard English spelling — a separate name.
• Stephan — Another established spelling.

Nicknames: Stef

Famous bearers

• Stefan Edberg — Swedish tennis player, former world No. 1 (b. 1966) Contemporary
• Stefan Zweig — Austrian writer, author of The World of Yesterday (1881–1942) Historical

Style

InternationalClassic

Why parents choose it

Stefan gives Stephen a continental, understated feel. It is a good fit for families with European heritage.

Worth knowing

• Americans will often write Stephen or Steven instead.
• Stress placement varies — say it the way you want it said.