The story behind Stefan
From Ancient Greek στεφανίζω (stephanízō, “to crown”) & Ancient Greek στέφανος (stéphanos, “that which surrounds, crown, wreath”).
Other language forms and explanations (3)
German entry
From Latin Stephanus.
Polish entry
a male given name from Latin [in turn from Ancient Greek], equivalent to English Stephen
Serbo-Croatian entry
Borrowed from Ancient Greek Στέφανος (Stéphanos).
Pronunciation
US English (ARPAbet): S T EH1 F AA0 N
Regional pronunciation variants
- German: [ˈʃtɛfan]
- Polish: /ˈstɛ.fan/
- Serbo-Croatian: /stefan/
This is a US English dictionary reading of the spelling; personal pronunciations may differ. Digits mark stress: 0 is unstressed, 1 is primary, 2 is secondary. Pronunciation source and notation.
Popularity
Stefan ranked #1023 in US for 2025.
Source: SSA national baby names
Names Similar to Stefan
Sabin
Learned borrowing from Latin Sabīnus. Coined by Sabino Arana, ultimately from Latin Sabinus.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Sawsan
From Middle Persian [script needed] (swsn' /sōsan/), from Ancient Greek σοῦσον (soûson), ultimately from Egyptian z:S:n-M9 (zšn, “lotus”). Doublet of سُوزَان (sūzān).
- Gender
- feminine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Shtjefën
Early borrowing from Latin Stephanus.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Simeon
From Middle English Simeon, from Latin Simeon, from Ancient Greek Σῠμεών (Sŭmeṓn), from Biblical Hebrew שִׁמְעוֹן (šimʿôn, “hearkening, listening”), originally referring to…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Simeón
From Latin Simeon. Doublet of Simón.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Simon
From Middle English Simon, Symond, Symounde, from Anglo-Norman Simon, Simond, Simund, a conflation of two unrelated names: one from Latin Simon, from Ancient Greek Σίμων…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends N
- same syllable count
- similar length
Middle Names for Stefan
Abraham
Middle English Abraham English Abraham From Middle English Abraham, from Old English Abraham, from Late Latin Ābrahām, from Ancient Greek Ἀβρᾱᾱ́μ (Abrāā́m), from Hebrew…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends M
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Abromas
Borrowed from Ecclesiastical Latin Ābrahām, from Ancient Greek Ἀβραάμ (Abraám), from Hebrew אַבְרָהָם. Cognates include German Abraham and Russian Авраам (Avraam).
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends S
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Absalom
From Hebrew אַבְשָׁלוֹם (avshalóm, literally “father of peace”), from אָב (av, “father”) + שָׁלוֹם (shalom, “peace”). Learned borrowing from Latin Absālōm, from Hebrew…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends M
- balanced syllable contrast
- good length contrast
Sibling Names for Stefan
Abdiasz
Learned borrowing from Latin Abdias, from Ancient Greek Ἀβδίας (Abdías), from Hebrew עובדיה.
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends Z
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Abel
English Abel From Middle English Abel, from Old English Ābel, from Latin Abel, from Ancient Greek Ἅβελ (Hábel), from Biblical Hebrew הֶבֶל (Héḇel, “Abel”), possibly from the…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 2 syllables
- Ending
- ends L
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length
Abelus
Borrowed from Ancient Greek Ἅβελ (Hábel), itself from Biblical Hebrew הֶ֫בֶל (heḇel). The vowel, while short by etymology, is shown to be carrying stress by the descended…
- Gender
- masculine
- Syllables
- 3 syllables
- Ending
- ends S
- shared origin connection
- balanced name length