Stefan

Meaning of Stefan

Stefan is the continental cousin of Stephen, rooted in the ancient Greek “Stephanos,” meaning “crown” or “garland,” so the name practically walks around with a laurel wreath on its head. Woven through European history—from medieval kings in Serbia to modern creatives like Austrian author Stefan Zweig and Swedish tennis ace Stefan Edberg—it carries an easy cosmopolitan polish without feeling showy. English speakers rhyme it with “seven,” Germans soften it to SHTAY-fahn, and Swedes stretch it to STEH-fahn, so your little Stefan can sound at home on three different passports. In the United States the name has hovered comfortably in the mid-ranks for decades, avoiding fad fatigue while still popping up often enough to feel familiar. All told, Stefan offers parents a winning mix of classic meaning, global flair, and just a dash of literary-athletic sparkle.