Declining since 1990, #1,021 for boys today.
Popularity of Stefan since 1910
Babies named Stefan per year in U.S. Social Security records.
Data table (by decade)
| Decade | Boys |
|---|---|
| 1910s | 115 |
| 1920s | 103 |
| 1930s | 78 |
| 1940s | 262 |
| 1950s | 651 |
| 1960s | 1,642 |
| 1970s | 2,387 |
| 1980s | 4,016 |
| 1990s | 5,399 |
| 2000s | 2,520 |
| 2010s | 2,590 |
| 2020s | 1,432 |
Meaning & origin
Stefan is a form of Stephen widely used across Europe, especially in German, Scandinavian, and Slavic cultures. In the United States, it ranked 1021 in 2025, with 1 in 7799 boys receiving the name, far below its peak in 1991. The name has been in use since at least 1910, the first year of Social Security data, though it has declined in recent decades, a trajectory that began around 1990. Stefan is most commonly found in Arkansas, Massachusetts, and Ohio, reflecting pockets of European-heritage communities. Its enduring appeal lies in its cross-cultural familiarity and strong, classic sound, making it a solid alternative to the more common Stephen or Steven.
Stefan is a form of Stephen, from the Greek Stephanos meaning "crown" or "garland." The name was borne by Saint Stephen, the first Christian martyr, and has been common across Europe in various forms. It is particularly popular in German, Scandinavian, Slavic, and Baltic regions.
Where Stefan is most popular
Births per 100,000 boys by state. Press play or drag the slider to watch it move across the decades. The lightest shade means too few recorded births.
“Stefan” around the world
Where Stefan lands in the latest official birth statistics abroad, matched to the U.S. spelling.
France
25
babies in 2024
Ireland
9
babies in 2025
Quebec
7
babies in 2025
Sources: INSEE (France) · CSO Ireland (Ireland) · Retraite Québec (Quebec).
Nicknames & variants
Nicknames: Stef, Stevie
Sibling names for Stefan
Names that share Stefan's style, for a brother or sister.
Sisters: Anna, Elena, Maria, Katarina, Sophie, Heidi, Kristina, Danica, Ivana, Jelena, Katerina, Zora, Bianka, Chante, Cherise, Cristi, Jovana, Liesl, Renate, Sascha, Tanja, Vanda, Anica, Daiana, Iana, Jadzia, Janica, Rada, Roza, Steffi, Yovana, Andreea, Grettel, Ilina, Janika, Matina, Milica, Natalija, Patra, Tanija, Zorina, Vielka, Batina, Dennisse, Iliyana, Ilka, Ivannia, Ivonna, Madalina, Magdalina, Margareta, Nevena, Ninoska, Severina, Stana, Yaritsa, Zlaty
Brothers: Alexander, Daniel, Nikolai, Peter, Tomas, Anton, Aleksander, Bladimir, Jovan, Alek, Aleksandar, Andrei, Nikola, Alexandru, Andon, Andrej, Braun, Christo, Christoph, Kaz, Konstantin, Kosta, Lazar, Milos, Novak, Osmin, Rolfe, Vlad, Zoran, Bogdan, Filip, Karlo, Lazlo, Matei, Orest, Sava, Ilija, Kazmir, Boyan, Drago, Dusan, Goran, Hanz, Mihailo, Mirko, Pavle, Vuk, Yordan, Yovan
Names like Stefan
Names whose popularity has moved with Stefan's over the last 50 years.
